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THE   CRIMSON   BLIND 


"Dead  !  oh,  yes,  dead  enough." 

Page  26 — Frontispiece. 


Tht  Crimitn  Blind. 


Xhe  Crimson  Blind 


By 

FRED.  M.  WHITE 

Author  or"T'cg*rthen's  Wife,"  "The  Robe  of  Lucifer,"  Etc. 


ILLUSTRATIONS  BY  VICTOR  PROUT 


R.      F.      F  E  N   N  O      &      C  O  M   P  ^-v  N  Y 
i8    East    Seventeenth      Street,    New  York. 

WARD,       LOCK       &       CO..         L  O    N   1>  'T  N 


Copyright,    1905 
JBy  R.  F.  Feano  Sc  Company 


CONTENTS. 


eiAma 

PAOB 

I.. 

— •*  Who  Speaks  ?  "    ,        .        •        •        • 

7 

II. 

— Thk  Crimson  Blind       ..it 

15 

III. 

— The  Voice  in  the  Darkness        .        •        < 

la 

IV. 

— In  Extremis • 

>      38 

V. 

— '*  Received  with  Thanks  "   .        , 

.      33 

VI. 

— A  Policy  of  Silence     .... 

,      40 

VII. 

—No.  2x8,  Brunswick  Square         .        . 

.      48 

VIII. 

— Hatherly  Bell       ..... 

56 

IX. 

—The  Broken  Figure       .... 

62 

X. 

—The  House  of  the  Silent  Sorrow    . 

.      67 

XI. 

—After  Reubkanot 

80 

XII. 

— "The  Crimson  Blind".    ^  . 

87 

XIII. 

—"Good  Dog:" 

.      94 

XIV. 

— Behind  the  Blind          •        •        .        . 

,      99 

XV. 

—A  Medical  Opinion        •        •        .        . 

106 

XVI. 

— Margaret  Sees  a  Ghost      •        .        • 

"3 

XVII. 

— The  Pace  Slackens       .         .         .         < 

118 

XVIII. 

—A  Common  Enemy  ..... 

"5 

XIX. 

— RoLLO  Shows  his  Teeth       .         .         , 

130 

XX. 

— Frank  Littimer 

137 

XXI. 

— A  Find     ....... 

143 

XXII. 

— "The  Light  that  Failed".         , 

149 

XXIII. 

— Indiscretion    .         .         .         .         .         .         . 

154 

XXIV. 

— Enid  Learns  Something        .         .         .         • 

160 

XXV. 

— Littimer  Castle    .         .         .         .         • 

165 

XXIV. 

— An  Unexpected  Guest          •        .        . 

17a 

XXVII. 

— Slightly  Faecicai.         .        .         .         .         . 

177 

CONTENTS. 


CBArrsi 
XXVIII. — A  Bquirh  of  Dames    .        ;        • 
XXIX. — The  Man  with  the  Thumb   Kgkih 

XXX.— Gone  1 

XXXI. — Bell  Arrives      •        .        . 
XXXII. — How  THE  Scheme  Worked  Out 
XXXIII. — The  Frame  of  the  Picture 
XXXIV. — The  Puzzling  of  Hensom 
XXXV. — Chris  has  an  Idea      .        , 
XXXVI:— A  Brilliant  Idea 
XXXVII. — Another  Telephonic  Message 
XXXVIII.— A  Little  Fiction 
XXXIX. — The  Fascination  of  James  Merritt 
XL. — A  Useful  Discovery 
XLI. — A  Delicate  Errand   .        . 
XLII. — Prince  Rupert's  Ring        . 
XLIII. — Nearing  the  Truth  .        , 
XLIV. — Enid  Speaks         •        .        • 
XLV.— On  the  Trail      . 
XLVIj — Littimer's  Eyes  are  Opened 
XLVII. — The  Track  Broadens 
XLVIII.— Where  is  Rawlins?  . 
XLIX. — A  Chevalier  of  Fortune  . 
L. — Rawlins  is  Candid      .         . 
LI. — Heritage  is  Willing 
LI  I. — Putting  the  Light  Out    t 
LIII. — Unsealed  Lips    .        .        • 
LIV. — Where  is  the  Ring? 
LV. — Kicked  Out  .        .        , 

LVI. — White  Fangs      .        •        • 
LVII. — Hide  amd  Seek    t       •       • 


9k9m 

183 
188 

»94 
igg 
205 
2ia 
316 
221 
331 
237 
34a 
347 

a54 
261 
266 
375 
378 
384 
289 
300 
3" 
Si« 
3*3 
335 
34« 
347 
353 
359 
36$ 
S7« 


THE   CRIMSON    BLIND 


CRIMSON    BLIND. 


CHAPTER   I. 

"who   speaks?" 

David  Steel  dropped  his  eyes  from  the  mirror  and 
shuddered  as  a  man  who  sees  his  own  soul  bared  for 
the  first  time.  And  yet  the  mirror  was  in  itself  a  thing 
of  artistic  beauty — engraved  Florentine  glass  in  a  frame 
of  deep  old  Flemish  oak.  The  novelist  had  purchased 
it  in  Bruges,  and  now  it  stood  as  a  joy  and  a  thing  of 
beauty  against  the  full  red  wall  over  the  fireplace. 
And  Steel  had  glanced  at  himself  therein  and  seen 
murder  in  his  eyes. 

He  dropped  into  a  chair  with  a  groan  for  his  own 
helplessness.  Men  have  done  that  kind  of  thing  before 
when  the  cartrifV^es  are  all  gone  and  the  bayonets  are 
twisted  and  broken  and  the  brown  waves  of  the  foe 
come  snarling  over  the  breastworks.  And  then  they 
die  doggedly  with  the  stones  in  their  hands,  and  cursing 
the  tardy  supports  that  brought  this  black  shame  upon 
them. 

But  Steel's  was  ruin  of  another  kind.  The  man  was 
a  fighter  to  his  finger-tips.  He  had  dogged  determina- 
tion and  splendid  physical  courage  ;  he  had  gradually 
thrust  his  way  into  the  front  rank  of  living  novelists, 
though  the  taste  of  poverty  was  still  bitter  in  his  mouth. 
And  how  good  success  was  now  that  it  had  come  I 


8  THE   CRIMSON   BLIND. 

People  envied  him.  Well,  that  was  all  in  the  sweets 
of  tlie  victory.  They  praised  his  blue  chin.i,  they 
lingered  before  his  Oriental  dishes  and  the  choice  pic- 
tures on  the  panelled  walls.  The  whole  thing  was  still 
a  constant  pleasure  to  Steel's  artistic  mind.  The  dark 
walls,  the  old  oak  and  silver,  the  red  shades,  and  the 
high  artistic  fittings  soothed  him  and  pleased  him,  and 
played  upon  his  tender  imagination.  And  behind  thera 
was  a  study,  filled  with  books  and  engravings,  and 
beyond  that  again  a  conservatory,  filled  with  the  choicest 
blossoms.  Steel  could  work  with  the  passion  flowers 
above  his  head  and  the  tender  grace  of  the  tropical 
ferns  about  hira,  and  he  could  reach  his  left  hand  for 
his  telephone  smd  call  Fleet  Street  to  his  ear. 

It  was  all  unique,  delightful,  the  dream  of  an  artistic 
soul  realised.  Three  years  before  David  Steel  had 
worked  in  an  attic  at  a  bare  deal  table,  and  his  mother 
had  £3  per  week  to  pay  for  everything.  Usually  there 
was  balin  in  this  recollection. 

But  not  to-night,  Heaven  help  him,  not  to-night  1 
Little  grinning  demons  were  dancing  on  the  oak  cor- 
nices, there  were  mocking  hghts  gleaming  from  Cellini 
tankards  that  Steel  had  given  far  too  much  money  for. 
It  had  not  seemed  to  matter  just  at  the  time.  If  all 
this  artistic  beauty  had  emptied  Steel's  purse  there 
was  a  golden  stream  coming.  What  mattered  it  that 
the  local  tradesmen  were  getting  a  little  restless  ?  The 
great  expense  of  the  novelist's  life  was  past.  In  two 
years  he  would  be  rich.  And  the  pathos  of  tlie  thing 
was  not  lessened  by  the  fact  that  it  was  true.  In  two 
years'  time  Steel  would  be  well  off.  He  was  terribly 
short  of  ready  money,  but  he  had  just  finished  a  serial 
story  for  which  he  was  to  be  paid  £500  within  two 
months  of  the  delivery  of  the  copy  ;  two  novels  of  his 
were  respectively  in  their  fourth  and  fifth  editions. 
But  these  novels  of  his  he  had  more  or  less  given  away, 
and  he  ground  his  teeth  as  he  thought  of  it.  Still, 
everything  spelt  prosj^erity.  If  he  lived,  David  Steel 
was  bound  to  become  a  rich  man. 

And  yet  he  was  mined.  Within  twenty-four  hours 
everything  would  pass  out  of  his  hands.     To  all  practical 


•*WHO  SPEAKS?"  9 

puiposes  it  had  done  so  already.    And  all  for  the  want 

of  £i,oi)0  !  Steel  had  earned  twice  that  amount  during 
the  past  twelve  months,  and  the  fruits  of  his  labour 
were  as  balm  to  his  soul  about  him.  Within  the  next 
twelve  months  he  could  pay  the  debt  three  times  over. 
He  would  cheerfully  have  taken  the  bill  and  doubled 
the  amount  for  six  months'  delay. 

And  aU  this  because  he  had  become  surety  for  an 
absconding  brother.  Steel  had  put  his  pride  in  his 
pocket  and  interviewed  his  creditor,  a  httle,  polite, 
mild-eyed  financier,  who  meant  to  have  his  money  to 
the  uttermost  farthing.  At  first  he  had  been  suave  and 
sympathetic,  until  he  had  discovered  that  Steel  had 
debts  elsewhere,  and  then 

Well,  he  had  signed  judgment,  and  to-morrow  he 
could  levy  execution.  Within  a  few  hours  the  bottom 
would  fall  out  of  the  universe  so  far  as  Steel  was  con- 
cerned. Within  a  few  hours  every  butcher  and  baker 
and  candle-stick-maker  would  come  abusively  for  his 
bill.  Steel,  who  could  have  faced  a  regiment,  recoiled 
fearfully  from  that.  Within  a  week  his  oak  and  silver 
would  have  to  be  sold  and  the  passion  flower  would 
wither  on  the  walls. 

Steel  had  not  told  anybody  yet ;  the  strong  man  had 
grappled  with  his  trouble  alone.  Had  he  been  a  man 
of  business  he  might  have  found  some  way  out  of  the 
difficulty.  Even  his  mother  didn't  know.  She  was 
a'^lecp  upstairs,  perhaps  dreaming  of  her  son's  greatness. 
What  would  the  dear  old  mater  say  when  she  knew  ? 
Well,  she  had  been  a  good  mother  to  him,  and  it  had 
been  a  labour  of  love  to  furnish  the  house  for  her  as 
for  himstlf.  Perhaps  there  would  be  a  few  tears  in  those 
gentle  eyes,  but  no  more.  Thank  God,  no  reproaches 
there. 

David  lighted  a  cigarette  and  paced  restlessly  round 
the  dining-room.  Never  had  he  appreciated  its  quiet 
beauty  more  than  he  did  now.  There  were  llowers, 
blood-red  flowers,  on  the  table  undci  the  graceful  electric 
stand  that  Steel  had  dosigrird  himself.  He  snapped 
off  the  light  as  if  the  sight  pained  him,  and  strode  into 
bis  study.     For  a  time  he  stood  moodily  gazing  at  his 


10  THE  CRIMSON   BLIND. 

flowers  and  ferns.  How  every  leaf  there  was  pregnant 
with  association.  There  was  the  Moorish  clock  droning 
the  midnight  hour.  When  Steel  had  brought  that 
clock 

"  Ting,  ting,  ting.  Pring,  pring.  ping,  pring.  Ting, 
ting,  ting,  ting." 

But  Steel  heard  nothing.  Everything  seemed  as 
sil'-nt  as  the  grave.  It  was  only  by  a  kind  of  inner 
consciousness  that  he  knew  the  hour  to  be  midnight. 
Midnight  meant  the  coming  of  the  last  day.  After  sun- 
rise some  greasy  lounger  pregnant  of  cheap  tobacco 
would  come  in  and  assume  that  he  represented  the 
sheriff,  bills  would  be  hung  like  banners  on  the  outward 
walls,  and  then 

"Piing,  pring,  pring.  Ting,  ting,  ting,  ting,  ting, 
ting,  ting,  ting.     Pring,  pring.  pring." 

Bells,  somewhere.  Like  the  bells  in  the  valley  where 
the  old  vicarage  used  to  stand.  Steel  vaguely  wondered 
who  now  Uved  in  the  house  where  he  was  born.  He 
was  staring  in  the  most  absent  way  at  his  telephone,, 
utterly  unconscious  of  the  shrill  impatience  of  the  little 
voice.  He  saw  the  quick  pulsation  of  the  striker  and 
he  came  back  to  earth  again, 

Jefferies  of  the  Weekly  Messenger,  of  course.  Jefferies 
was  fond  of  a  late  chat  on  the  telephone.  Steel  won- 
dered grimly,  if  Jefferies  would  lend  him  £i,ooo.  He 
flung  himself  down  in  a  deep  lounge-chair  and  placed 
the  receiver  to  his  ear.  By  the  deep,  hoarse  clang  of 
the  wires,  a  long-distance  message,  assuredly. 

"  From  London,  evidently.  Halloa,  London  1  Are 
you  there  ?  " 

London  responded  that  it  was.  A  clear,  soft  voice 
spoke  at  length. 

"  Is  that  you,  Mr.  Steel  ?  Are  yoti  quite  alone  ? 
Under  the  circumstances  you  are  not  busy  to-night  ?  " 

Steel  started.  He  had  never  heard  the  voice  before. 
It  was  clear  and  soft  and  commanding,  and  yet  there 
was  just  a  suspicion  of  mocking  irony  in  it. 

"  I'm  not  very  busy  to-night,"  Steel  repHed.  "  WTio 
b  speaking  to  me  ?  " 

"  That  tor  the  present  we  need  not  go  into,"  said  the 


•*WHO   SPEAKS?"  n 

mocking  voice.  "  As  certain  old-fashioned  contem- 
poraries of  yours  woiild  say,  '  We  meet  as  strangers  !  ' 
stranger  yet,  you  are  quite  alone  !  " 

"  I  am  quite  alone.  Indeed,  I  am  the  only  one  up 
in  the  house." 

"  Good.  I  have  told  the  exchange  people  not  to  ring 
off  till  I  have  finished  with  you.  One  advantage  of 
telephoning  at  this  hour  is  that  one  is  tolerably  free  from 
interruption.  So  your  mother  is  asleep  ?  Have  you 
told  her  what  is  likely  to  happen  to  you  before  many 
hours  have  elapsed  ?  " 

Steel  made  no  reply  for  a  moment.  He  was  restless 
and  ill  at  ease  to-night,  and  it  seemed  just  possible  that 
his  imagination  was  playing  him  strange  tricks.  But, 
no.  The  Moorish  clock  in  its  frame  of  celebrities  droned 
the  quarter  after  twelve  ;  the  scent  of  the  Dijon  roses 
floated  in  from  the  conservatory. 

"  I  have  told  nobody  as  yet,"  Steel  said,  hoarsely. 
•'  Who  in  the  name  of  Heaven  are  you  ?  " 

"  That  in  good  time.  But  I  did  not  think  you  were  a 
coward." 

"  No  man  has  ever  told  me  so — face  to  face." 

"  Good  again.  I  recognise  the  fighting  ring  in  your 
voice.  If  you  lack  certain  phases  of  moral  courage,  you 
are  a  man  of  pluck  and  resource.  Now,  somebody  who 
is  very  dear  to  me  is  at  present  in  Brighton,  not  very 
far  from  your  own  house.  She  is  in  dire  need  of  assist- 
ance. You  also  are  in  dire  need  of  assistance.  We  can 
be  of  mutual  advantage  to  one  another." 

"  What  do  you  mean  by  that  ?  "  Steel  whispered. 

"  Let  me  put  the  matter  on  a  business  footing.  I 
want  you  to  help  my  friend,  and  in  return  I  will  help 
you.  Bear  in  mmd  that  I  am  asking  you  to  do  nothing 
wrong.  If  you  will  promise  me  to  go  to  a  certain  address 
in  Brighten  to  night  and  see  my  friend,  I  promise  that 
before  you  sleep  the  sum  of  £i  ,000  in  Bank  of  England 
notes  shall  be  in  your  possession." 

No  reply  came  from  bteel.  He  could  not  have  spoken 
at  that  moment  for  the  fee-simple  of  Golconda.  He 
could  only  hang  gasping  to  the  telephone.  Many  a 
strange  and  weird  plot  came  and  went  in  that  versatile 


za  THE  CRiilSON  BLIND. 

brain,  but  never  one  more  wild  than  this.  Apparently 
no  reply  was  expected,  for  the  speaker  resumed  : — 

"  I  am  asking  you  to  do  no  wrong.  You  may  natur- 
ally desire  to  know  why  my  friend  does  not  come  to 
you.  That  must  remain  my  secret,  our  secret.  We 
are  trusting  you  because  we  know  you  to  be  a  gentleman, 
but  we  have  enemies  who  are  ever  on  the  watch.  All 
you  have  to  do  is  to  go  to  a  certain  place  and  give  a 
certain  woman  information.  You  are  thinking  that  this 
b  a  strange  mystery.  Never  was  anything  stranger 
dreamt  of  in  your  philosophy.     Are  you  agreeable  ?  " 

The  mocking  tone  died  out  of  the  small,  clear  voice 
until  it  was  almost  pleading. 

"  You  have  taken  me  at  a  disadvantage,"  Steel  said. 
"  And  you  know " 

"  Everything.  I  am  trying  to  save  you  from  niin. 
Fortune  has  played  you  into  my  hands.  I  am  perfectly 
aware  that  if  you  were  not  on  the  verge  of  social  ex- 
tinction you  would  refuse  my  request.  It  is  in  your 
hands  to  decide.  You  know  that  Beckstein,  your 
creditor,  is  absolutely  merciless.  He  will  get  his  money 
back  and  more  besides.  This  is  his  idea  of  business. 
To-morrow  you  will  be  an  outcast — for  the  time,  at 
any  rate.     Your  local  creditors  will  be  insolent  to  you  ; 

f)eople  will  pity  you  or  blame  you,  as  their  disposition 
ies.  On  the  other  hand,  you  have  but  to  say  the  word 
and  you  are  saved.  You  can  go  and  see  the  Brighton 
representatives  of  Beckstein's  lawyers,  and  pay  them  in 
paper  of  the  Bank  of  England." 

If  I  was  assured  of  your  bona-fides,"  Steel  mur- 
mured. 

A  queer  little  laugh,  a  laugh  of  triumph,  came  over 
the  wires. 

"  1  have  anticipated  that  question.  Have  you  Green- 
wich time  about  you  ?  " 

Steel  responded  that  he  had.  It  was  five-and-twenty 
minutes  past  twelve.  He  had  quite  ceased  to  wonder 
at  any  questions  put  to  him  now.  It  was  all  so  like 
one  of  his  brilliant  little  extravanganzas. 

"  You  can  hang  up  your  receiver  for  five  minutes," 
the  voice  said.        Precisely  at  half-past  twelve  you  go 


"WHO  SPEAKS?"  13 

wad  look  on  your  front  doorstep.  Then  come  back  and 
tell  me  what  you  have  found.  You  need  not  fear  that 
I  shall  go  away." 

Steel  hung  up  the  receiver,  feeling  that  he  needed  a 
little  rest.  His  cigarette  was  actually  scorching  his  left 
thumb  and  forefinger,  but  he  was  heedless  of  the  fact. 
He  flicked  up  the  dining-room  lights  again  and  rapidly 
made  himself  a  sparklet  soda,  which  he  added  to  a  small 
whisky.  He  looked  almost  lovingly  at  the  gleaming 
Cellini  tankard,  at  the  pools  of  light  on  the  fair  damask. 
Was  it  possible  that  he  was  not  going  to  lose  all  this, 
after  aU  ? 

The  Moorish  clock  in  the  study  droned  the  half-hour. 

David  gulped  down  his  whisky  and  crept  shakily  to 
the  front  door  with  a  feeling  on  him  that  he  was  doing 
something  stealthily.  The  bolts  and  chain  rattled  under 
his  trembling  fingers.  Outside,  the  whole  world  seemed 
to  be  sleeping.  Under  the  wide  canojjy  of  stars  some 
black  object  picked  out  with  shining  points  lay  on  the 
white  marble  breadth  of  the  top  step.  A  gun-metal 
cigar-case  set  in  tiny  diamonds. 

The  novelist  fastened  the  front  door  and  staggered  to 
the  study.  A  pretty,  artistic  thing  such  as  David  had 
fully  intended  to  purchase  for  himself.  He  had  seen 
one  exactly  like  it  in  a  jeweller's  window  in  North  Street. 
He  had  pointed  it  out  to  his  mother.  Why,  it  was  the 
very  one  !  No  doubt  whatever  aljout  it  !  David  had 
had  the  case  in  his  hands  and  had  reluctantly  declined 
the  purchase. 

He  pressed  the  spring,  and  the  case  lay  open  before 
him.  Inside  were  papers,  soft,  crackling  papers  ;  the 
case  was  crammed  with  them.  They  were  white  and 
clean,  and  twenty-five  of  them  in  all.  Twenty-five  Bank 
of  England  notes  for  ^f  lo  each — ^(^250  ! 

David  fought  the  dreamy  feeling  ofi  and  took  d«»wii 
the  telephone  receiver. 

"  Are  you  there  ? "  he  whispered,  as  if  fearful  of 
listeners.     "  I — I  have  found  your  parcel." 

"  Containing  the  notes.  So  far  so  good.  Yes,  you 
are  right,  it  is  the  same  cigar-case  you  admired  so  much 
itk  LockhaiL's  the  other  day.    Well,  we  have  givea  yoa 


14  THE  CRIMSON   BLIND. 

an  instance  of  our  bona-fides.  But  £250  is  of  no  use 
to  you  at  present.  Beckstein's  people  would  not  accept 
it  on  account — they  can  make  far  more  money  by 
*  selling  you  up,'  as  the  poetic  phrase  goes.  It  is  in 
your  hands  to  procure  the  other  £750  before  you  sleep. 
You  can  take  it  as  a  gilt,  or,  if  you  are  too  proud  for 
that,  you  may  regard  it  cis  a  loan.  In  which  case  you 
can  i)estow  the  money  on  such  charities  as  commend 
themselves  to  you.  Now,  are  you  going  to  place  your- 
self entirely  in  my  hands  ?  " 

Steel  hesitated  no  longer.  Under  the  circumstances 
few  men  would,  as  he  had  a  definite  assurance  that 
there  was  nothing  dishonourable  to  be  done.  A  little 
courage,  a  little  danger,  perhaps,  and  he  could  hold  up 
his  head  before  the  world  ;  he  could  return  to  his  desk 
to-morrow  with  the  passion  flowers  over  his  head  and 
the  scent  groves  sweet  to  his  nostrils.  .Vnd  the  mater 
could  dream  happily,  for  there  would  be  no  sadness  or 
sorrow  in  the  morning. 

"  I  will  do  exactly  what  you  tell  me,"  he  said. 

"  Spoken  like  a  man,"  the  voice  cried.  "  Nobody 
will  know  you  have  left  the  house — you  can  be  home 
in  an  hour.  You  will  not  be  missed.  Come,  time  is 
getting  short,  and  I  have  my  risks  as  well  as  others. 
Go  at  once  to  Old  Stcine.  Stand  on  the  path  close  under 
the  shadow  of  the  statue  of  George  IV.  and  wait  there. 
Somebody  will  say  '  Come,'  and  you  will  follow.  Good- 
night." 

Steel  would  have  said  more,  but  the  tinkle  of  his  own 
bell  told  him  that  the  stranger  had  rung  off.  He  laid 
his  cigar-case  on  the  writing-table,  slipped  his  cigarette- 
case  into  his  pocket,  satisfied  himself  that  he  had  his 
latch-key,  and  put  on  a  dark  overcoat.  Overhead  the 
iear  old  mater  was  sleephig  peacefully.  He  closed  the 
front  door  carefully  behind  him  and  strode  resolutely 
into  the  darkness. 


CHAPTER   IL 

THE     CRIMSON     BLIND. 

David  walk  swiftly  al'-infr,  his  mind  in  a  perfect  whirL 
Now  that  once  he  had  started  he  was  eager  to  see  the 
adventure  through.  It  was  strange,  but  stranger  things 
had  happened.  More  than  one  correspondent  with 
queer  personal  experiences  had  taught  him  that.  Nor 
was  Steel  in  the  least  afraid.  He  was  horribly  frightened 
of  disgrace  or  humiliation,  but  physical  courage  he  had 
in  a  high  degree.  And  was  he  not  going  to  save  his 
home  and  his  good  name  ? 

David  had  not  the  least  doubt  on  the  latter  score. 
Of  course  he  would  do  nothing  wrong,  neither  would 
he  keep  the  money.  This  he  preferred  to  regard  as  a 
loan — a  loan  to  be  paid  off  before  long.  At  any  rate, 
money  or  no  money,  he  would  have  been  sorry  to  have 
abandoned  the  adventure  now. 

His  spirits  rose  as  he  walked  along,  a  great  weight  had 
fallen  from  his  shoulders.  He  smiled  as  he  thought  of 
his  mother  peacefully  sleeping  at  home.  What  would 
his  mother  think  if  she  knew  ?  But,  then,  nobody  was 
to  know.     That  had  been  expressly  settled  in  the  bond. 

Save  for  an  occasional  policeman  tlie  streets  were 
deserted.  It  was  a  little  cold  and  raw  for  the  time  of 
year,  and  a  fog  like  a  pink  blanket  was  cropping  in  from 
the  sea.  Down  in  the  Steine  the  big  arc-lights  gleamed 
here  and  there  like  nebulous  blue  globes  ;  it  was  hardly 
possible  to  see  across   the  road.     In  the  half-shadow 


l6  THE  CRIMSON  BLIND. 

behind  Steel  the  statue  of  the  First  Gentleman  in  Europe 
glowed  gigantic,  ghost-like  in  the  mist. 

It  was  marvellously  still  there,  so  still  that  David 
could  hear  the  tinkle  of  the  pebbles  on  the  beach.  He 
stood  back  by  the  gate  of  the  gardens  watching  the 
play  of  the  leaf  silhouettes  on   tl^e  pavement,   quaint 

Eattems  of  fantastic  designs  thrown  up  in  high  relief 
y  the  arc-light  above.  From  the  dark  foggy  throat 
of  St.  James's  Street  came  the  tinkle  of  a  cycle  bell. 
On  so  still  a  night  the  noise  seemed  bizarre  and  out  of 
place.  Then  the  cycle  loomed  in  sight  ;  the  rider, 
muffled  and  humped  over  the  front  wheel,  might  have 
been  a  man  or  a  woman.  As  the  cyclist  flashed  by 
something  white  and  gleaming  dropped  into  the  road, 
and  the  single  word  "  Come  "  seemed  to  cut  like  a  knife 
through  the  fog.  That  was  all ;  the  rider  had  looked 
neither  to  the  right  nor  to  the  left,  but  the  word  was 
distinctly  uttered.  At  the  same  instant  an  arm  dropped 
and  a  long  finger  pointed  to  the  gleaming  white  square 
in  the  road.  It  was  like  an  instantaneous  photograph 
— a  flash,  and  the  figure  had  vanished  in  the  fog. 

"  This  grows  interesting,"  Steel  muttered.  "  Evi- 
dently my  shadowy  friend  has  dropped  a  book  of  rules 
in  the  road  for  me.     The  plot  thickens." 

It  was  only  a  plain  white  card  that  lay  in  the  road. 
A  few  lines  were  typed  on  the  back  of  it.  The  words 
might  have  been  curt,  but  they  were  to  the  point  : — 

"  Go  along  the  sea  front  and  turn  into  Brunswick 
Square.  Walk  along  the  right  side  of  the  square  until 
you  reach  No.  219.  You  will  read  the  number  over  the 
fanlight.  Open  the  door  and  it  will  yield  to  you ; 
the;"e  is  no  occasion  to  knock.  The  first  door  inside  the 
hall  leads  to  the  dining-room.  Walk  into  there  and  wait. 
Drop  this  card  down  the  gutter  just  ofjposite  you." 

David  read  the  directions  once  or  twice  carefully. 
He  made  a  mental  note  of  219.  After  that  he  dropped 
the  card  df)wn  the  drain-trap  nearest  at  hand.  A  little 
way  ahead  of  him  he  heard  the  cycle  bell  trilling  as  if 
in  approval  of  his  action.  But  David  had  made  up  his 
mind  to  observe  every  rule  of  the  game.  Besides,  he 
might  be  rigidly  watched. 


THE  CRIMSON  BLIND.  17 

The  spirit  of  adventure  was  growing  upon  Steel  now. 
He  was  no  longer  holding  the  solid  result  before  his 
eyes.  He  was  ready  to  see  the  thing  through  for  its 
own  sake.  And  as  he  hurried  up  North  Street,  along 
Western  Road,  and  finally  down  Preston  Street,  he 
could  hear  the  purring  tinkle  of  the  cycle  bell  before 
him.  But  not  once  did  he  catch  sight  of  the 
shadowy  rider. 

All  the  same  his  heart  was  beating  a  little  faster  as 
he  turned  into  Brunswick  Square.  All  the  houses  were 
in  pitchy  darkness,  as  they  naturally  would  be  at  one 
o'clock  in  the  morning,  so  it  was  only  with  great  difiiculty 
that  Steel  could  make  out  a  number  here  and  there.  As 
he  walked  slowly  and  hesitatingly  along  the  cycle  bell 
drummed  impatiently  ahead  of  him. 

"  A  hint  to  me,"  David  muttered.  "  Stupid  that  I 
should  have  forgotten  the  directions  to  read  the  number 
over  the  fanlight.  Also  it  is  logical  to  suppose  that  I 
am  going  to  find  hghts  at  No.  219.  All  right,  my  friend  ; 
no  need  to  swear  at  me  with  that  bell  of  yours." 

He  quickened  his  pace  again  and  finally  stopped  before 
one  of  the  big  houses  where  lights  were  gleaming  from 
the  hall  and  dining-room  windows.  They  were  electric 
lights  by  their  great  power,  and,  save  for  the  hall  and 
dining-room,  the  rest  of  the  house  lay  in  utter  darkness. 
The  cycle  bell  let  off  an  approving  staccato  from  behind 
the  blankety  fog  as  Steel  pulled  up. 

There  was  nothing  abnormal  about  the  house,  nothing 
that  struck  the  adventurer's  eye  beyond  the  extra- 
ordinary vividness  of  the  crimson  blind.  The  two  side- 
windows  of  the  big  bay  were  evidently  shuttered,  but 
the  large  centre  gleamed  like  a  flood  of  scarlet  overlaid 
with  a  silken  sheen.  Far  across  the  pavement  the  iiiby 
track  struck  into  the  heart  of  the  fog. 

"  Vivid  note,"  Steel  murmured.  "  I  shall  remember 
that  impression." 

He  was  destined  never  to  fors^et  it,  but  it  was  only 
one  note  in  the  gamut  of  adventure  now.  With  a  firm 
step  he  walked  up  the  marble  llii^ht  and  turned  the 
handle.  It  felt  dirty  and  rusty  to  the  touch.  Evidently 
the   servants     were      neglectful,    or     they     were    em- 

B 


li  THE  CRIMSON   BLIND. 

ployed  by  people  who  had  small  regard  for  outward 
appearances. 

The  door  opened  noiselessly,  and  Steel  closed  it  behind 
him.  A  Moorish  lantern  cast  a  brilliant  flood  of  jght 
upon  a  crimson  carpet,  a  chair,  and  an  empty  oak 
umbrella-stand.  Beyond  this  there  was  no  atom  of 
furniture  in  the  hall.  It  was  impossible  to  see  beyond 
the  dining-room  door,  for  a  heavy  red  velvet  curtain 
was  drawn  across.  David's  first  impression  was  the 
amazing  stillness  of  the  place.  It  gave  him  a  queer 
feeling  that  a  murder  had  been  committed  there,  and 
that  everybody  had  fled,  leaving  the  corpse  behind. 
As  David  coughed  away  the  lump  in  his  throat  the 
cough  sounded  strangely  hollow. 

He  passed  into  the  dining-room  and  looked  eagerly 
about  him.  The  room  was  handsomely  furnished,  if  a 
little  conventional — a  big  mahogany  table  in  the  centre, 
rows  of  mahogciny  chairs  upholstered  in  morocco,  fine 
modem  prints,  most  of  them  artist's  proofs,  on  the 
walls.  A  big  marble  clock,  flanked  by  a  pair  of  vases, 
stood  on  the  mantelshelf.  There  were  a  large  number 
of  blue  vases  on  the  sideboard.  The  red  distemper  had 
faded  to  a  pale  pink  in  places. 

"  Tottenham  Court  Road,"  Steel  smiled  to  himself. 
"  Modern,  solid,  expensive,  but  decidedly  inartistic. 
Ginger  jars  fourteen  guineas  a  pair,  worth  about  as 
many  pence.  Moneyed  people,  solid  and  respectable, 
of  the  middle  class.  What  brings  them  playing  at 
mystery  like  this  ?  " 

The  room  was  most  brilliantly  lighted  both  from  over- 
head and  from  the  walls.  On  the  shining  desert  of  the 
dining-table  lay  a  small,  flat  parcel  addressed  to  David 
Steel,  Esq.,  The  novelist  tore  off  the  cover  and  dis- 
closed a  heap  of  crackling  white  papers  beneath.  Rapidly 
he  fluttered  the  crisp  sheets  over — seventy-five  Bank  of 
England  notes  for  £io  each. 

It  was  the  balance  of  the  loan,  the  price  paid  for 
Steel's  presence.  All  he  had  to  do  now  was  to  place 
the  money  in  liis  pocket  and  walk  out  of  tlie  house. 
A  few  steps  and  he  would  be  free  with  nobody  to  say 
him  nay.     It  was  a  temptation,  but  Steel  fought  it 


THE  CRIMSON  BLIND,  19 

down.  He  slipped  the  precious  notes  into  his  pocket 
and  buttoned  his  coat  tightly  over  them.  He  had  no 
fear  for  the  coming  day  now. 

"  And  yet,"  he  murmured,  "  what  cf  the  price  I  shall 
have  to  pay  for  this  ?  " 

Well,  It  was  worth  a  ransom.  And,  so  long  as  there 
was  nothing  dishonourable  attached  to  it,  Steel  was 
prepared  to  redeem  his  pledge.  He  knew  perfectly  well 
from  bitter  experience  that  the  poor  man  pays  usurious 
rates  for  fortune's  favours.  And  he  was  not  without  a 
strange  sense  of  gratitude.     If 

Click,  click,  click.  Three  electric  switches  were 
snapped  off  almost  simultaneously  outside,  and  the 
dining-room  was  plunged  into  pitchy  darkness.  Steel 
instantly  caught  up  a  chair.  He  was  no  coward,  but 
he  was  a  novelist  with  a  novelist's  imagination.  As 
he  stood  there  the  sweetest,  most  musical  laugh  in  the 
world  broke  on  his  ear.  He  caught  the  swish  of  silken 
drapery  and  the  subtle  scent  that  suggested  the  frag- 
rance of  a  woman's  hair.  It  was  vague,  undefined,  yet 
soothing. 

"  Pray  be  seated,  Mr.  Steel,"  the  silvery  voice  said. 
**  Believe  me,  had  there  been  any  other  way,  I  would 
not  have  given  you  all  this  trouble.  You  found  the 
parcel  addressed  to  you  ?  It  is  an  earnest  of  good 
faith.     Is  not  that  a  correct  English  expression  ?  " 

David  murmured  that  it  was.  But  what  did  the 
speaker  mean  ?  She  asked  the  question  like  a  student 
of  the  English  language,  yet  her  accent  and  phrasing 
were  perfect.  She  laughed  again  noiselessly,  and  once 
more  Steel  caught  the  subtle,  entrancing  perfume. 

"  I  make  no  further  apology  for  draf;ging  you  here 
at  this  time,"  the  sweet  voice  said.  "  Wc  knew  that 
you  were  in  the  habit  of  sitting  up  alone  late  at  night, 
hence  the  telephone  message.  You  will  perhaps  wonder 
how  we  came  to  know  so  much  of  your  private  affairs. 
Rest  assured  that  we  learnt  nothing  in  Brighton.  Pre- 
sently you  may  gatlier  why  I  am  so  deej)ly  interested 
in  you  ;  I  have  been  for  the  past  fortnight.  You  see, 
we  were  not  quite  certain  that  you  would  come  to  our 
assistance  unless  we  could  find  some  means  of  coercing 


so  THE  CRIMSON  BLIND. 

you.  Then  we  go  to  one  of  the  smartest  inquiry  agents 
m  the  world  and  say  :  '  Tell  us  all  about  Mr.  David 
Steel  without  delay.  Money  is  no  object.'  In  less  than 
a  week  we  know  all  about  Beckstein.  We  leave  matters 
till  the  last  moment.  If  you  only  knew  how  revoltinf 
it  all  was  !  " 

"  So  your  tone  seems  to  imply,  madam,"  Steel  said 
drily. 

"  Oh,  but  truly.  You  were  in  great  trouble,  and  we 
found  a  way  to  get  you  out.  At  a  price  ;  ah,  yes.  B\it 
your  trouble  is  nothing  compared  with  mine — which 
brings  me  to  business.  A  fortnight  ago  last  Monday 
you  posted  to  Mr.  Vanstone,  editor  of  the  Piccadilly 
Magazine,  the  synopsis  of  the  first  four  or  five  chapters 
of  a  proposed  serial  for  the  journal  in  question.  You 
open  that  story  with  a  young  and  beautiful  woman  who 
is  in  deadly  peril.     Is  not  that  so  ?  " 

"  Yes,"  Steel  said,  faintly.  "  It  is  just  as  you  suggest. 
But  how " 

"  Never  mind  that,  because  I  am  not  going  to  tell 
you.  In  common  parlance — is  not  that  the  word  ? — 
that  woman  is  in  a  frightful  fix.  There  is  nothing 
strained  about  your  heroine's  situation,  because  I  have 
heard  of  people  being  in  a  similar  plight  before.  Mr. 
Steel,  I  want  you  to  tell  me  truthfully  and  candidly,  can 
you  see  the  way  clear  to  save  your  heroine  ?  Oh,  I 
don't  mean  by  the  long  arm  of  coincidence  or  other 
favourite  ruses  known  to  your  craft.  I  mean  bj 
common  sense,  logical  methods,  by  brilliant  nises,  b} 
Machiavelian  means.     Tell  me,  do  you  see  a  way  ?  " 

The  question  came  eagerly,  almost  imploringly,  from 
the  darkness.  David  could  hear  the  quick  gcisps  of  his 
questioner,  could  catch  the  rustle  of  the  silken  corsage 
as  she  breathed. 

"  Yes,"  he  said,  "  I  can  see  a  brilliant  way  out  that 
would  satisfy  the  strictest  logician.     But  you " 

"  Thank  Heaven  !  Mr.  Steel,  I  am  your  heroine.  I 
am  placed  in  exactly  the  same  position  as  the  woman 
whose  story  you  are  going  to  write.  The  setting  is 
different,  the  local  colouring  is  not  the  same,  but  the 
same  deadly  peril  menaces  me.     For  the  love  of  Heaven 


THE  CRIMSON   BLIND.  « 

hold  out  your  hand  to  save  a  lonely  and  desperate 
woman  whose  only  crime  is  that  she  is  rich  and  beau- 
tiful. Provndence  had  placed  in  my  hands  the  gist  of 
your  hornine's  story.  Hence  this  masquerade  ;  hence 
the  fact  that  you  are  here  to-night.  I  have  helped  you 
— help  me  in  return." 

It  was  some  time  before  Steel  spoke. 

"  It  shall  be  as  you  wish,"  he  said.  "  I  will  tell  you 
how  I  propose  to  save  my  heroine.  Her  sufferings  are 
fiction  ;  yours  will  be  real.  But  if  you  are  to  be  saved 
by  the  same  means,  Heaven  help  you  to  bear  the  troubles 
that  are  in  front  of  you.  Before  God,  it  would  be  more 
merciful  for  me  to  be  silent  and  let  you  go  your  own 
way." 


CHAPTER   IIL 

THE   VOICE   IN   THE   DARKNESS. 

David  was  silent  for  some  little  time.  The  strangeness 
of  the  situation  had  shut  down  on  him  agcoin,  and  he 
was  thinking  of  nothing  else  for  the  moment.  In  the 
dead  stillness  of  the  place  he  could  hear  the  quick  breath- 
ing of  his  companion  ;  the  rustle  of  her  dress  seemed 
near  to  him  and  then  to  be  very  far  off.  Nor  did  the 
pitchy  darkness  yield  a  jot  to  his  now  accustomed  eyes. 
He  held  a  hand  close  to  his  eyes,  but  he  could  see  nothing. 

"  Well  ?  "  the  sweet  voice  in  the  darkness  said,  im- 
patiently.    "  Well  ?  " 

"  Beheve  me,  I  will  give  you  all  the  assistance  possible. 
If  you  would  only  turn  up  the  light " 

"  Oh,  I  dare  not.  I  have  given  my  word  of  honour 
not  to  violate  the  seal  of  secrecy.  You  may  say  that 
we  have  been  absurdly  cautious  in  this  matter,  but  you 
would  not  think  so  if  you  knew  everything.  Even  now 
the  wretch  who  holds  me  in  his  power  may  have  guessed 
my  strategy  and  be  laughing  at  me.  Some  day,  per- 
haps  " 

The  speaker  stopped,  with  something  like  a  sob  in 
her  throat. 

"  We  are  wasting  precious  time,"  she  went  on,  more 
calmly.  "  I  had  better  tell  you  my  history.  In  your 
story  a  woman  commits  a  crime  :  she  is  guilty  of  a 
serious  breach  of  trust  to  save  tlic  life  of  a  man  she 
loves.     By  doing  so  she  places  the  future  and  the  happi- 


THE    VOICE   IN    THE    DARKNESS.         33 

ncss  of  many  people  in  the  hands  of  an  abandoned 
scoundrel.  If  she  can  only  manage  to  regain  the  thing 
she  has  parted  from  the  situation  is  saved.  Is  not  that 
so?" 

"  So  far  you  have  stated  the  case  correctly,"  David 
murmured. 

"  As  I  said  before,  I  am  in  practically  similar  case. 
Only,  in  my  situation,  I  hastened  everything  and  risked 
the  happiness  of  many  people  for  the  sake  of  a  httle 
child." 

"  Ah  !  "  David  cried.  "  Your  own  child  ?  No  !  The 
child  of  one  very  near  and  dear  to  you,  then.  From 
the  mere  novelist  point  of  view,  that  is  a  far  more  artistic 
idea  than  mine.  I  see  that  I  shall  have  to  amend  my 
story  before  it  is  published." 

A  rippling  little  laugh  came  like  the  song  of  a  bird 
in  the  darkness. 

"  Dear  Mr.  Steel,"  the  voice  said,  "  I  implore  you  to 
do  nothing  of  the  kind.  You  are  a  man  of  fertile  imagi- 
nation— a  plot  more  or  less  makes  no  difference  to  you. 
If  you  publish  that  story  you  go  far  on  the  way  to  ruin 
me. 

"  I  am  afraid  that  I  am  in  the  dark  in  more  senses 
than  one,"  David  murmured. 

"  Then  let  me  enlighten  you.  Daily  your  books  are 
more  widely  read.  My  enemy  is  a  great  novel  reader. 
You  publish  that  story,  and  what  results  ?  You  not 
only  tell  that  enemy  my  story,  but  you  show  him  my 
way  out  of  the  difficulty,  and  show  him  how  he  can 
checkmate  my  every  move.  Perhaps,  after  I  have 
escaped  from  the  net " 

"  You  are  right,"  Steel  said,  promptly.  "  From  a 
professional  point  of  view  the  story  is  abandoned.  And 
now  you  want  me  to  show  you  a  rational  and  logical, 
a  human  way  out." 

"  If  you  can  do  so  you  have  my  everlasting  gratitude." 

"  Then  you  must  tell  me  in  detail  what  it  is  you 
want  to  recover.  My  heroine  parts  with  a  document 
which  the  villain  knows  to  be  a  forgery.  Money  cannot 
buy  it  back  because  the  villain  can  make  as  much 
money  as  he  likes  by  retaining  it.     He  does  as  he  likes 


34  THE  CRIMSON   BLIND* 

with  the  family  property  ;  he  keeps  my  heroine's  husband 
out  of  England  by  dangling  the  forgery  and  its  conse- 
quences over  his  head.  What  is  to  be  done  ?  How  is 
the  ruffian  to  be  bullied  into  a  false  sense  of  security  by 
the  one  man  who  desires  to  throw  dust  in  his  eyes  ?  " 

"  Ah,"  the  voice  cried,  "  ah,  if  you  could  only  tell 
me  that !  Let  my  ruffian  only  imagine  that  I  am  dead  ; 
let  him  have  proofs  of  it,  and  the  thing  is  done.  I 
could  reach  him  then ;  I  could  tear  from  him  the 
letter  that — but  I  need  not  go  into  details.  But  he  is 
cunning  as  the  serpent.  Nothing  but  the  most  con- 
vincing proofs  would  satisfy  him." 

"  A  certificate  of  death  signed  by  a  physician  beyond 
reproach  ?  " 

"  Yes,  that  would  do.  But  you  couldn't  get  a  medical 
man  like  that  to  commit  felony." 

"  No,  but  we  could  trick  him  into  it,"  Steel  exclaimed. 
"  In  my  story  a  fraud  is  perpetrated  to  blind  the  villain 
and  to  deprive  him  of  his  weapons.  It  is  a  case  of  the 
end  justifying  the  means.  But  it  is  one  thing,  my  dear 
lady,  to  commit  fraud  actually  and  to  perpetrate  it  in 
a  novel.  In  the  latter  case  you  can  defy  the  police, 
but  unfortunately  you  and  I  are  dealing  wnth  real  hfe. 
If  I  am  to  help  you  I  must  be  a  party  to  a  felony." 

"  But  you  will !  You  are  not  going  to  draw  back 
now  ?  Mr.  Steel,  I  have  saved  your  home.  You  are 
a  happy  man  compared  to  what  you  were  two  hours 
ago.  If  the  risk  is  great  you  have  brains  and  imagina- 
tion to  get  out  of  danger.  Show  me  how  to  do  it,  and 
the  rest  shall  be  mine.  You  have  never  seen  me,  you 
know  nothing,  not  even  the  name  of  the  person  who 
called  you  over  the  telephone.  You  have  only  to  keep 
your  own  counsel,  and  if  I  wade  in  blood  to  my  end 
you  are  safe.  Tell  me  how  I  can  die,  disappear,  leaving 
that  one  man  to  believe  I  am  no  more.  And  don't  make 
it  too  ingenious.  Don't  forget  that  you  promised  to  teli 
me  a  rational  way  out  of  the  difi&culty.  How  can  it  be 
done  ?  " 

"  In  my  pocket  I  have  a  cutting  from  the  Times, 
which  contams  a  chapter  from  the  history  of  a  medical 
student  who  is  alone  in  London.     It  closely  resembles 


THE  VOICE   IN  THE   DARKNESS-  25 

my  plot  He  says  he  has  no  friends,  and  he  deems  it 
prudent  for  reasons  we  need  not  discuss  to  let  the  world 
assume  that  he  is  dead.  The  rest  is  tolerably  easy. 
He  disguises  himself  and  goes  to  a  doctor  of  repute, 
whom  he  asks  to  come  and  see  his  brother — i.e.,  himself 
— who  is  dangerously  ill.  The  doctor  goes  later  in  the 
day  and  finds  his  patient  in  bed  with  severe  internal 
inflammation.  This  is  brought  about  by  a  free  use  of 
albumen.  I  don't  know  what  amount  of  albumen  one 
would  take  without  extreme  risk,  but  you  could  pump 
that  information  out  of  any  doctor.  Well,  our  medical 
man  calls  again  and  yet  again,  and  finds  his  patient 
sinking.  The  next  day  the  patient,  disguised,  calls 
upon  his  doctor  with  the  information  that  liis  '  brother  ' 
is  dead.  The  doctor  is  not  in  the  least  surprised,  and 
without  going  to  view  the  body  gives  a  certificate  of 
death.  Now,  I  admit  that  all  this  sounds  cheap  and 
theatrical,  but  you  can't  get  over  facts.  The  thing 
actually  happened  a  little  time  ago  in  London,  and  there 
is  no  reason  why  it  shouldn't  happen  again." 

"  You  suggest  that  I  should  do  this  thing  ?  "  the  voice 
asked. 

"  Pardon  me,  I  did  nothing  of  the  kind,"  Steel  replied. 
"  You  asked  me  to  show  you  how  my  heroine  gets  her- 
self out  of  a  terrible  position,  and  I  am  doing  it.  You 
are  not  without  friends.  The  way  I  was  called  up  to- 
night and  the  way  I  was  brought  here  prove  that. 
With  the  aid  of  your  friends  the  thing  is  possible  to 
you.  You  have  only  to  find  a  lodging  where  people 
are  not  too  observant  and  a  doctor  who  is  too  busy, 
or  too  careless,  to  look  after  dead  pntients,  and  the 
thing  is  done.  If  you  desire  to  be  looked  upon  as  dead 
— especially  by  a  powerful  enemy — I  cannot  recommend 
a  more  natural,  rational  way  than  this.  As  to  the 
details,  they  may  be  safely  left  to  you.  The  clever 
manner  in  which  you  have  kept  up  the  mystery  to-night 
convinces  me  that  I  have  nothing  to  teach  you  in  this 
direction.     And  if  there  is  anything  more  I  can  do " 

"  A  thousand,  thousand  thanks,"  the  voice  cried, 
passionately.  "  To  be  looked  upon  as  '  dead,'  to  be 
near  to  the  rascal  who  smiles  to  tliink  that  I  am  in  my 


a$  THE  CRIMSON  BLIND. 

gravft.  I  I  .  And  everything  so  dull  and  prosaic  on  the 
surface  I  Yes,  I  have  friends  who  will  aid  me  in  the 
business.  Some  day  I  may  be  able  to  thank  you  face 
to  face,  to  tell  you  how  I  managed  to  see  your  plot. 
May  I  ?  " 

The  question  came  quite  eagerly,  almost  imploringly. 
In  the  darkness  Steel  felt  a  hand  trembling  on  his  breast, 
a  cool,  sUm  hand,  with  many  rings  on  the  fingers.  Steel 
took  the  hand  and  carried  it  to  his  Ups. 

"  Nothing  would  give  me  greater  pleasure,"  he  said. 
"  And  may  you  be  successful.     Good-night." 

"  Good-night,  and  God  bless  you  for  a  real  gentleman 
and  a  true  friend.  I  will  go  out  of  the  room  first  and 
put  the  hghts  up  afterwards.  You  will  walk  away  and 
close  the  door  behind  you.  The  newspaper  cutting  ! 
Thanks.  And  once  more  good-night,  but  let  us  hope 
not  good-bye." 

She  was  gone.  Steel  could  hear  the  distant  dying 
swish  of  silk,  the  rustling  of  the  porti&re,  and  then, 
with  a  flick,  the  lights  came  up  again.  Half-blinded  by 
the  sudden  illumination  Steel  fumbled  his  way  to  the 
door  and  into  the  street.  As  he  did  so  Hove  Town  Hall 
clock  chimed  two.  With  a  cigarette  between  his  teeth 
David  made  his  way  home. 

He  could  not  think  it  all  out  yet ;  he  would  wait 
until  he  was  in  his  own  comfortable  chair  under  the 
roses  and  palms  leading  from  his  study.  A  fine  niglit 
of  adventure,  truly,  and  a  paying  one.  He  pressed  the 
precious  packet  of  notes  to  his  side  and  his  soul  expanded. 

He  was  home  at  last.  But  surely  he  had  closed  the 
door  liefore  he  started  ?  He  remembered  distinctly 
tryinf:^  the  latch.  And  here  the  latch  was  back  and 
the  door  open.  The  quick  snap  of  the  electric  light 
declared  nobody  in  the  dining-room.  Beyond,  the  study 
was  in  darkness.     Nobody  there,  but — stop  ! 

A  stain  on  the  carpet ;  another  by^the  conservatory 
door.  Pots  of  flowers  scattered  about,  and  a  huddled 
mass  like  a  litter  of  empty  sacks  in  one  comer.  Then 
the  huddled  mass  resolved  itself  into  the  figure  oi  a 
man  with  a  wliite  face  smeared  with  blood.  Dead  I 
Oh,  yes,  dead  enough. 


THE  VOICE   IN   THE  DARKNESS.  27 

Steel  flew  to  the  telephone  and  rang  furiously. 

"  Give  me  52,  Police  Station,"  he  cried.  "  Are  you 
there  ?  Send  somebody  at  once  up  here — 15,  Downend 
Terrace.  There  has  been  murder  done  here.  For 
Heaven's  sake  come  quickly." 

Steel  dropped  the  receiver  and  stared  with  strained 
eyes  at  the  dxeadlul  sight  before  him. 


CHAPTER    IV. 

IN    EXTREMIS. 

For  some  time — a  niinnte,  an  hour — Steel  stood  over 
the  dreadful  thing  huddled  upon  the  floor  of  his  con- 
servatory. Just  then  he  was  incapable  of  consecutive 
ideas. 

His  mind  began  to  move  at  length.  The  more  he 
thought  of  it  the  more  absolutely  certain  he  was  that 
he  had  fastened  the  door  before  leaving  the  house. 
True,  the  latch  was  only  an  ordinary  one,  and  a  key 
might  easily  have  been  made  to  fit  it.  As  a  matter  of 
fact,  David  had  two,  one  in  reserve  in  case  of  accidents. 
The  other  was  usually  kept  in  a  jewel-drawer  of  the 
dressing-table.     Perhaps 

David  went  quietly  upstairs.  It  was  just  possible 
that  the  murderer  was  in  the  house.  But  the  closest 
search  brought  nothing  to  light.  He  pulled  out  the 
jewel-drawer  in  the  dressing-table.  The  spare  latch- 
key had  gone  !     Here  was  something  to  go  upon. 

Then  there  was  a  rumbling  of  an  electric  bell  .some- 
where that  set  David's  heart  beating  like  a  drum.  The 
hall  light  streamed  on  a  policeman  in  uniform  and  an 
ins}x;ctor  in  a  dark  overcoat  and  a  hard  felt  hat.  On 
the  pavement  was  a  long  shallow  tray,  which  David 
recognised  mechanically  as  the  ambulance. 

"  Something  very  senous,  sir  ?  "  Inspector  Marley 
asked,  quietly.     "  I've  brougiit  the  doctor  with  me." 

David  nodded.  Both  the  inspector  and  the  doctor 
a 


IN    EXTREMIS.  29 

were  acquaintances  of  his.  He  closed  the  door  and  led 
the  way  into  the  study.  Just  inside  the  conservatory 
and  not  far  from  the  huddled  figure  lay  David's  new 
cigar-case.  Doubtless,  without  knowing  it,  the  owner 
had  whisked  it  off  the  table  when  he  had  sprung  the 
telephone. 

"  'Um,"  Marley  muttered.  "  Is  this  a  clue,  or  yours, 
sir?" 

He  lifted  the  case  with  its  diamonds  gleaming  like 
stars  on  a  dark  night.  David  had  forgotten  all  about 
it  for  the  time,  had  forgotten  where  it  came  from,  or 
that  it  contained  £250  in  bank-notes. 

"  Not  mine,"  he  said.  "  I  mean  to  say,  of  course,  it 
is  mine.  A  recent  present.  The  shock  of  this  discovery 
has  deprived  me  of  my  senses  pretty  well." 

Marley  laid  the  cigar-case  on  the  table.  It  seemed 
strange  to  him,  who  could  follow  a  tragedy  calmly,  that 
a  man  should  forget  his  own  property.  Meanwhile  Cross 
was  bending  over  the  body.  David  could  see  a  face 
smooth  like  that  of  a  woman.  A  quick  httle  exclamation 
came  from  the  doctor. 

"  A  drop  of  brandy  here,  and  quick  as  possible,"  he 
commanded. 

"  You  don't  mean  to  say,"  Steel  began ;  "  you 
don't " 

Cross  waved  his  arm,  impatiently.  The  brandy  was 
procured  as  speedily  as  possible.  Steel,  watching  in- 
tently, fancied  that  he  detected  a  slight  flicker  of  the 
muscles  of  the  white,  stark  face. 

"  Bring  the  ambulance  here,"  Cross  said,  curtly.  "  If 
we  can  get  this  poor  chap  to  the  hospital  there  is  just 
a  chance  for  him.  Fortunately,  we  have  not  many  yards 
to  go." 

As  far  as  elucidation  went  Marley  naturally  looked  to 
Steel. 

"  I  should  like  to  have  your  explanation,  sir,"  he  said, 
gravely. 

"  Positively,  I  have  no  explanation  to  offer,"  David 
replied.  "  About  midnight  I  let  myself  out  to  go  for 
a  stroll,  carefully  closing  the  door  behind  me.  Natur- 
ally, the  door  was  on  the  latch.     When  I  came  back  an 


30  THE  CKIMSON   BLIND. 

hour  or  so  later,  to  my  horror  and  surprise  I  found  tl^.osa 
marks  of  a  struggle  yonder  and  that  poor  fellow  lying 
on  the  floor  of  the  conservr.-iory." 

"  'Um.     Was  the  door  fast  on  your  return  ?  " 

"  No,  it  was  pulled  to,  but  it  was  open  all  the  same." 

"  You  didn't  happen  to  lose  your  latch-key  during 
your  midnight  stroll,  sir  ?  " 

"  No,  it  was  only  when  I  put  my  key  in  the  door  that 
I  discovered  it  to  be  open.  I  have  a  spare  latch-key 
which  I  keep  for  emergencies,  but  when  I  went  to  look 
for  it  just  now  the  key  was  not  to  be  found.  When  I 
came  back  the  house  was  perfectly  quiet." 

"  What  family  have  you,  sir  ?  And  what  land  of 
servants  ?  " 

"  There  is  only  myself  and  my  mother,  with  three 
maids.  You  may  dismiss  any  suspicion  of  the  servants 
from  your  mind  at  once.  My  mother  trained  them  all 
in  the  old  vicarage  where  I  was  born,  and  not  one  of  the 
trio  has  been  with  us  less  than  twelve  years." 

"  That  simplifies  matters  somewhat,"  Marley  said, 
thoughtfully.  "  Apparently  your  latch-key  was  stolen 
by  somebody  who  has  made  careful  study  of  your  habits. 
Do  you  generally  go  for  late  walks  after  your  household 
has  gone  to  bed,  sir  ?  " 

David  replied  somewhat  gnidgingly  that  he  had  never 
done  such  a  thing  before.  He  would  like  to  have  con- 
cealed the  fact,  but  it  was  bound  to  come  out  sooner 
or  later.  He  had  strolled  along  the  front  and  round 
Bnmswick  Square.     Marley  shrugged  his  shoulders. 

"  Well,  it's  a  bit  of  a  puzzle  to  me,"  he  admitted. 
"  You  go  out  for  a  midnight  walk — a  thing  you  hiive 
never  done  before — and  when  you  come  back  you  find 
somebody  has  g(  t  into  your  house  by  means  of  a  stolen 
latch-key  and  murdered  somebody  else  in  your  conser- 
vatory. According  to  that,  two  people  must  have  en» 
terted  the  house." 

"  That's  logic,"  David  admitted.  "  There  can  be  no 
murder  without  the  slain  atrd  the  slayer.  My  impression 
is  that  somebody  who  knows  the  ways  of  the  house 
watched  me  depart.  Tlicn  he  lured  his  victim  in  here 
under  pretence  that  it  wa.s  his  own  house — he  had  tho 


IN   EXTREMIS.  31 

purloined  latch-key — and  murdered  him.  Audacious, 
but  a  far  safer  way  than  doing  it  out  of  doors." 

But  Marley's  imagination  refused  to  go  so  far.  The 
theory  was  plausible  enough,  he  pointed  out  respectfully, 
if  the  assassin  had  been  assured  that  these  midnight 
rambles  were  a  matter  of  custom.  The  point  was  a 
shrewd  one,  and  Steel  had  to  admit  it.  He  almost 
wished  now  that  he  had  suggested  that  he  often  took 
these  midnight  rambles.  He  regretted  the  fiction  stiU 
more  when  Marley  asked  if  he  had  had  some  appointment 
elsewhere  to-night. 

"  No."  David  said,  promptly,  "  I  hadn't." 

He  prevaricated  without  hesitation.  His  adventure 
in  Brunswick  Square  could  not  possibly  have  anything 
to  do  with  the  tragedy,  and  nothing  would  be  gained 
by  betraying  that  trust. 

"  I'll  run  round  to  the  hospital  and  come  and  see  you 
again  in  the  morning,  sir,"  Marley  said.  "  Whatever 
was  the  nature  of  the  crime,  it  wasn't  robbery,  or  the 
criminal  wouldn't  have  left  that  cigar-case  of  yours 
behind.  Sir  James  Lythem  had  one  stolen  like  that 
at  thp  last  races,  and  he  valued  it  at  £80." 

"  I'll  come  as  far  as  the  hospital  with  you,"  said  Steel. 

At  the  bottom  of  the  flight  of  steps  they  encountered 
Dr.  Cross  and  the  policeman.  The  former  handed  over 
to  Marley  a  pocket-book  and  some  papers,  together  with 
a  watch  and  chain. 

"  Everytliing  that  we  could  find  upon  him,"  he  ex- 
plained. 

"  Is  the  poor  fellow  dead  yet  ?  "  David  asked. 

"  No,"  Cross  replied.  "  He  was  stabbod  twice  in  the 
back  in  the  region  of  the  liver.  I  could  not  say  for 
sure,  but  there  is  just  a  chance  that  he  may  recover. 
But  one  thing  is  pretty  certain — it  will  be  a  good  long 
time  before  he  is  in  a  poiution  to  say  anytliing  for  himself. 
Good-night,  Mr.  Steel." 

David  went  indoors  thoughtfully,  with  a  general  feeling 
that  something  like  a  hand  had  grasped  his  brain  and 
was  squeezing  it  like  a  sponge.  lie  was  free  from  hi*^ 
carking  anxiety  now,  but  it  seemed  to  him  that  he  was 
paying  a  heavy  price  for  his  liberty.     Mechanically,  he 


3t  THE  CRIMSON  BLINDj 

counted  out  the  bank-notes,  and  almost  as  merhanlcally 
he  cut  his  initials  on  the  gun-metal  inside  the  cigar-case. 
He  was  one  of  the  kind  of  men  who  like  to  have  their 
initials  everywhere. 

He  snapped  the  lights  out  and  went  to  bed  at  last. 
But  not  to  sleep.  The  welcome  dawn  came  at  length 
and  David  took  his  bath  gratefully.  He  would  have 
to  tell  his  mother  what  had  happened,  suppressing  all 
reference  to  the  Brunswick  Square  episode.  It  was  not 
a  pleasant  story,  but  Mrs.  Steel  assimilated  it  at  length 
over  her  early  tea  and  toast. 

"  It  might  have  been  you,  my  dear,"  she  said,  placidly. 
"  And,  indeed,  it  is  a  dreadful  business.  But  why  not 
telephone  to  the  hospital  and  ask  how  the  poor  fellow 
is?" 

The  patient  was  better  but  was  still  id  an  unconscious 
conditioa. 


CHAPTER    %. 

**  RECEIVED   WITH   THANKS," 

Steel  swallowed  a  hasty  breakfast  and  hurried  off  town- 
wards.  He  had  £i,ooo  packed  away  in  his  cigar-case, 
and  the  sooner  he  was  free  from  Beckstein  the  better 
he  would  be  pleased.  He  came  at  length  to  the  oflSces 
of  Messrs.  Mossa  and  Mack,  whose  brass-plate  bore  the 
legend  that  the  gentry  in  questions  were  solicitors,  and 
that  they  also  had  a  business  in  London.  As  David 
strode  into  the  offices  of  the  senior  partner  that  individual 
looked  up  with  a  shade  of  anxiety  in  his  deep,  Oriental 
eyes. 

"  If  you  have  come  to  offer  terms,"  he  said,  nasally, 
"  I  am  sorry " 

"  To  hear  that  I  have  come  to  pay  you  in  full,"  David 
said,  grimly  ;  "  £974  16s.  ^d.  up  to  yesterday,  which  I 
understand  is  every  penny  you  can  rightfully  claim. 
Here  it  is.     Count  it." 

He  opened  the  cigar-case  and  took  the  notes  there- 
from. Mr.  Mossa  counted  them  very  carefully  indeed. 
The  shade  of  disappointment  was  still  u])on  his  aquiline 
features.  He  had  hoped  to  put  in  execution  to-day  and 
sell  David  up.  In  that  way  quite  £200  might  have  been 
added  to  his  legitimate  earnings. 

"  It  appears  to  be  all  correct,"  Mossa  said,  dismally. 

"  So  I  imaf:^ined,  sir.  You  will  be  so  good  as  to  in- 
dorse the  receijU  on  the  hack  of  the  writ.  Of  course 
you  are  delighted  to  find  that  I  am  not  putting  you 

3S  C 


34  THE   CRIMSON    BLIND. 

to  painful  extremities.  Any  other  firm  of  solicitors 
would  have  given  me  time  to  j)ay  tlus.  But  I 
am  like  the  man  who  journeyed  from  Jericho  to 
Jerusalem " 

"  And  fell  amongst  thieves !  You  dare  to  call  nve  a 
thief  ?     You  dare " 

"  I  didn't,"  David  said,  drily.  "  That  fine,  discrimi* 
nating  mind  of  yours  saved  me  the  trouble.  I  have 
met  some  tolerably  slimy  scoundrels  in  my  time,  but 
never  any  one  of  them  more  despicable  than  yourself. 
Faugh  !  the  mere  sight  of  you  sickens  me.  Let  me  get 
out  of  the  place  so  that  I  can  breathe." 

David  strode  out  of  the  office  with  the  remains  of 
his  small  fortune  rammed  into  his  pocket.  In  the  wild, 
unreasoning  rage  that  came  over  him  he  had  forgotten 
his  cigar-case.  And  it  was  some  little  time  before  Mr. 
Mossa  was  calm  enough  to  see  the  diamonds  winking  at 
him. 

"  Our  friend  is  in  funds,"  he  muttered.  "  Well,  he 
shall  have  a  dance  for  his  cigar-case.  I'll  send  it  up 
to  the  police-station  and  say  that  some  gentleman  or 
other  left  it  here  by  accident.  And  if  that  Steel  comes 
back  we  can  say  that  there  is  no  cigar-case  here.  And 
if  Steel  .does  not  see  the  police  advertisement  he  will  lose 
his  pretty  toy,  and  serve  him  right.  Yes,  that  is  the 
way  to  serve  him  out." 

Mr.  Mossa  proceeded  to  put  his  scheme  into  execution 
whilst  David  was  strolling  along  the  sea  front.  He 
was  too  excited  for  work,  though  he  felt  easier  in  his 
mind  than  he  had  done  for  months.  He  turned  me* 
chanically  on  to  the  Palace  Pier,  at  the  head  of  which 
an  Eastbourne  steamer  was  blaring  and  panting.  The 
trip  appealed  to  David  in  his  present  frame  of  mind- 
Like  most  of  his  class,  he  was  given  to  acting  on  the 
spur  of  the  moment  ....  It  was  getting  dark  as 
David  let  himself  into  Downend  Terrace  with  his  latch- 
key. 

How  good  it  was  to  be  back  again  !  The  eye  of  the 
artist  rested  fondly  upon  the  beautiful  things  around. 
And  but  for  the  sport  of  chance,  the  wliim  of  fate,  these 
had  all  passed  from  him  by  this  time.     It  was  good  to 


"RECEIVED  WITH  THANKS."  35 

look  across  the  dining- table  over  \  enetian  glass,  to  see 
the  pools  of  light  cast  by  the  shaded  electric,  to  note 
the  feathery  fall  of  flowers,  and  to  see  that  placid,  gentle 
face  in  its  frame  of  white  hair  opposite  him.  Mrs. 
Steel's  simple,  unaffected  pride  in  her  son  was  aot  tl» 
least-'gratifying  part  of  David's  success. 

"  You  have  not  suffered  from  the  shock,  mother  ?  " 
he  asked. 

"  Well,  no,"  Mrs.  Steel  confessed,  placidly.  "  You 
see,  I  never  had  what  people  call  nerves,  my  dear. 
And,  after  all,  I  saw  nothing.  Still,  I  am  very,  very 
sorry  for  that  poor  young  man,  and  I  have  sent  to 
inquire  after  him  several  times." 

"  He  is  no  worse  or  I  should  have  heard  of  it." 

"  No,  and  no  better.  And  Inspector  Marley  has  been 
here  to  see  you  twice  to-day." 

David  pitied  himself  as  much  as  a  man  could  pity 
himself  considering  his  surroundings.  It  was  rather 
annoying  that  this  should  have  happened  at  a  time 
when  he  was  so  busy.  And  Marley  would  have  all 
sorts  of  questions  to  ask  at.  all  sorts  of  inconvenient 
seasons. 

Steel  passed  into  his  study  presently  and  lighted  a 
cigarette.  Despite  his  determination  to  put  the 
events  of  yesterday  from  his  mind,  he  found  himself 
constantly  returning  to  them.  What  a  splendid 
dramatic  story  they  would  make  !  And  what  a  fascina- 
ting mystery  could  be  woven  round  that  gun-metal 
cigar-case  ! 

By  the  way,  where  was  the  cigar-case  ?  On  the  whole 
it  would  be  just  as  well  to  lock  the  case  away  till  he 
could  discover  some  reasonable  excuse  for  its  possession. 
His  mother  would  be  pretty  sure  to  ask  where  it  came 
from,  and  David  could  not  prevaricate  so  far  as  she 
was  concerned.  But  the  cigar-case  was  not  to  be  found, 
and  David  was  forced  to  the  conclusion  that  he  had  left 
it  in  Mossa's  office. 

A  httle  annoyed  with  himself  he  took  up  the  evening 
Argtis.  There  was  half  a  column  devoted  to  the  strange 
case  at  Downend  Terrace,  and  just  over  it  a  late  ad- 
vertisement  to  the  effect  that  a  gun-metal  cigar-case 


36  THE  CRIMSON  BLIND. 

had  been  found  and  was  in  the  hands  of  the  police 
awaiting  an  owner. 

David  slipped  from  the  house  and  caught  a  'bus  in 
St.  George's  Road. 

At  the  police-station  he  learnt  that  Inspector  Mailey 
was  still  on  the  premises.  Marley  came  forward 
gravely.  He  had  a  few  questions  to  ask,  but  nothing 
to  tell. 

"  And  now  perhaps  you  can  give  me  some  informa- 
tion ?  "  David  said,  "  You  are  advertising  in  to-night's 
.Argus  a  gun-metal  cigar-case  set  with  diamonds." 

"  Ah,"  Marley  said,  eagerly,  "  can  you  tell  us  anything 
about  it  ?  " 

"  Nothing  beyond  the  fact  that  I  hope  to  satisfy  you 
that  the  case  is  mine." 

Marley  stared  open-mouthed  at  David  for  a  moment, 
and  then  relapsed  into  his  sapless  official  manner.  He 
might  have  been  a  detective  cross-examining  a  suspected 
criminal. 

"  Why  this  mystery  ?  "  David  asked.  "  I  have  lost 
a  gun-metal  cigar-case  set  with  diamonds,  and  I  see  a 
similar  article  is  noted  as  found  by  the  police.  I  lost 
it  this  morning,  and  I  shrewdly  suspect  that  I  left  it 
behind  me  at  the  office  of  Mr.  Mossa. ' 

"  The  case  was  sent  here  by  Mr.  Mossa  himself," 
Marley  admitted. 

"  Then,  of  course,  it  is  mine.  I  had  to  give  Mr.  Mossa 
my  opinion  of  him  this  morning,  and  by  way  of  spiting 
me  he  sent  that  case  here,  hoping,  perhaps,  that  I  should 
not  recover  it.  You  know  the  case,  Marley — it  was  lying 
on  the  floor  of  my  conservatory  last  night." 

"  I  did  notice  a  gun-metal  case  there,"  Marley  said, 
cautiously. 

"  As  a  matter  of  fact,  you  called  my  attention  to  it 
and  asked  if  it  was  mine.  ' 

"  And  you  said  at  first  tliat  it  wasn't,  sir." 

"  Well,  you  must  make  allowances  for  my  then  framo 
of  mind,"  David  laughed.  "  I  rather  gather  from  your 
manner  that  somebody  else  has  been  after  the  case  ; 
if  that  b  so,  you  are  right  to  be  reticent.  Still,  it  is 
in  your  hands  to  settle  the  matter  on  the  spot.    All  you 


"  RECEIVED    WITH  THANKS."  37 

have  to  do  is  to  open  the  case,  and  if  you  fail  to  find 
my  initials,  D.S.,  scratched  in  the  left-hand  top  corner, 
then  I  have  lost  my  property  and  the  other  fellow  has 
found  his." 

In  the  same  reticent  fashion  Marley  proceeded  to 
unlock  a  safe  in  the  corner,  and  from  thence  he  produced 
what  appeared  to  be  the  identical  cause  of  all  tliis  tcUk. 
He  pulled  the  electric  table  lamp  over  to  him  and  pro- 
ceeded to  examine  the  inside  carefully. 

"  You  are  quite  right,"  he  said,  at  length.  "  Your 
initials  are  here." 

"  Not  strange,  seeing  that  I  scratched  them  there  last 
night,"  said  David,  drily.  "  When  ?  Oh,  it  was  after 
you  left  my  house  last  night." 

"  And  it  has  been  some  time  in  your  possession,  sir  ?  " 

"  Oh,  confound  it,  no.  It  was — well,  it  was  a  present 
from  a  friend  for  a  little  service  rendered.  So  far  as  I 
understand,  it  was  purchased  at  Lockhart's,  in  North 
Street.  No,  I'll  be  hanged  if  I  answer  any  more  of  youi 
questions,  Marley.  I'll  be  your  Aunt  Sally  so  far  as 
you  are  officially  concerned.  But  as  to  yonder  case, 
your  queries  are  distinctly  impertinent." 

Marley  shook  his  head  gravely,  as  one  might  over  a 
promising  but  headstrong  boy. 

"  Do  I  undertsand  that  you  decline  to  account  for  the 
case  ?  "  he  asked. 

"  Certainly  I  do.  It  is  connected  with  some  friends 
of  mine  to  whom  I  rendered  a  service  a  little  time  back. 
The  whole  thing  is  and  must  remain  an  absolute 
secret." 

"  You  are  placing  yourself  in  a  very  delicate  position, 
Mr.  Steel." 

David  started  at  the  gravity  of  the  tone.  That  some- 
thing was  radically  wrong  came  upon  him  like  a  shock. 
And  he  could  see  pretty  clearly  that,  without  betraying 
confidence,  he  could  not  logicilly  account  for  the  pos- 
session of  the  cigar-case.  In  any  case  it  was  too  much 
to  expect  that  the  stolid  police  officer  would  listen  to 
so  extravagant  a  tale  for  a  moment. 

"  What  on  earth  do  you  mean,  man  ?  "  he  cried. 

"  Well,  it's  this  way,  sir,"  Marley  proceeded  to  ex» 


38  THE  CRIMSON   BLIND- 

plain.  "  Wlien  I  pointed  out  the  case  to  you  lying  on 
the  floor  of  your  conservatory  last  night  you  said  it 
wasn't  yours.  You  looked  at  it  with  the  eyes  of  a 
stranger,  and  then  you  said  you  were  mistaken.  From 
information  given  me  last  night  I  have  been  making 
inquiries  about  the  cigar-case.  You  took  it  to  Mr. 
Mossa's,  and  from  it  you  produced  notes  to  the  vaiue 
of  nearly  ;f  1,000  to  pay  off  a  debt.  Within  eight-and 
forty  hours  you  had  no  more  prospect  of  paying  that 
debt  than  I  have  at  this  moment.  Of  course,  you 
will  be  able  to  account  for  those  notes.  You  can, 
of  course  ?  " 

Marley  looked  eagerly  at  his  visitor.  A  cold  chill  was 
pla3ang  up  and  down  Steel's  spine.  Not  to  save  his  life 
could  he  account  for  those  notes. 

"  We  will  discuss  that  when  the  proper  time  comes,** 
he  said,  with  fine  indifference. 

"  As  you  please,  sir.  From  information  also  received 
I  took  the  case  to  Walen's,  in  West  Street,  and  asked 
Mr.  WaJen  if  he  had  seen  the  case  before.  Pressed  to 
identify  it,  he  handed  me  a  glass  and  asked  me  to  find 
the  figures  (say)  '  1771.  x.  3,'  in  tiny  characters  on  the 
edge.  I  did  so  by  the  aid  of  the  glass,  and  Mr.  Walen 
further  proceeded  to  show  me  an  entry  in  his  purchasing 
ledger  which  proved  that  a  cigar-case  in  gun-metal  and 
diamonds  bearing  that  legend  had  been  added  to  the 
<^ock  quite  recently — a  few  weeks  ago,  in  fact." 

"  Well,  what  of  that  ?  "  David  asked,  impatiently. 
"  For  all  I  know,  the  case  might  have  come  from 
Walen's.  I  said  it  came  from  a  friend  who  must  needs 
be  nameless  for  services  equally  nameless.  I  am  not 
going  to  deny  that  Walen  was  right." 

"  I  have  not  quite  finished,"  Marley  said,  quietly. 
"  Pressed  as  to  when  the  case  had  been  sold,  Mr.  Walen, 
without  hesitation,  said  :  '  Yesterday,  for  £72  15s.'  The 
purchaser  was  a  stranger,  whom  Mr.  Walen  is  prepared 
to  identify.  Asked  if  a  formal  receipt  had  been  given, 
Walen  said  that  it  had.  And  now  I  come  to  the  gist 
of  the  whole  mattur.  You  saw  Dr.  Cross  hand  me  a 
mass  of  papers,  etc.,  taken  from  the  person  of  the  gentle 
man  who  was  nearly  killed  in  your  house  ?  " 


"RECEIVED   WITH    THANKS."  3q 

David  nof^ded.  His  breath  was  coming  a  litllo  faster. 
His  quick  mind  had  run  on  ahead  ;  he  saw  the  gulf 
iooiuiug  before  him. 

"  Go  on,"  said  he,  hoarsely,  "  go  on.  You  mean  to 
say  that " 

"  That  amongst  the  papers  found  in  the  pocket  of 
the  unfortunate  stranger  was  a  receipted  bill  for  the 
very  cigar-case  that  lies  heie  od  the  table  before  you  !  " 


CHAPTER   VL 

A     POLICY    OF    SILENCE* 

Steel  dropped  into  a  chair  and  gazed  at  Inspector 
Marley  with  mild  surprise.  At  the  same  time  he  was 
not  in  the  least  alarmed.  Not  that  he  failed  to  recog- 
nise the  gravity  of  the  situation,  only  it  appealed  in  the 
first  instance  to  the  professional  side  of  his  character. 

"  Walen  is  quite  sure  ?  "  he  asked.  "  No  possible 
doubt  about  that,  eh  ?  " 

"  Not  in  the  least.  You  see,  he  recognised  his  private 
mark  at  once,  and  Brighton  is  not  so  prosperous  a  place 
that  a  man  could  sell  a  £70  cigar-case  and  forget  all 
about  it — that  is,  a  second  case,  I  mean.  It's  most 
extraordinary." 

"  Rather  !     Make  a  magnificent  story,  Marley." 

"  Very,"  Marley  responded,  drily.  "  It  would  take 
all  your  well-known  ingenuity  to  get  your  hero  out  of 
this  trouble." 

Steel  nodded  gravely.  This  personal  twist  brought 
him  to  the  earth  again.  He  could  clearly  see  the  trap 
into  which  he  had  placed  himself.  There  before  him 
lay  the  cigar-case  which  he  had  positively  identified  as 
his  own  ;  inside,  his  initials  bore  testimony  to  the  fact. 
And  yet  the  same  case  had  been  identified  beyond 
question  as  one  sold  by  a  highly  respectable  local  trades- 
man to  the  mysterious  individual  now  Ipng  in  th« 
Sussex  County  Hospital. 

"  May  I  smoke  a  cigarette  ?  "  David  asked. 
40 


A    POLICY    OF   SILENCE.  41 

"  You  may  smoke  a  score  if  they  wiU  be  of  any  assist- 
ance to  3'ou,  sir,"  Marley  replied.  "  I  don't  want  to  ask 
you  any  questions  and  I  don't  want  you — well,  to 
commit  yourself.     But  really,  sir,  you  must  admit " 

The  inspector  paused  significantly.  David  nodded 
again. 

"  Pray  proceed,"  he  said  ;  "  speak  from  the  brief  you 
have  before  you." 

"  Well,  you  see  it's  this  way,"  Marley  said,  not  without 
hesitation.  "  You  call  us  up  to  your  house,  saying  that 
a  murder  has  been  committed  there  ;  we  find  a  stranger 
almost  at  his  last  gasp  in  your  conservatory  with  every 
signs  of  a  struggle  having  taken  place.  You  tell  us  that 
the  injured  man  is  a  stranger  to  you  ;  you  go  on  to  say 
that  he  must  have  found  his  way  into  your  house  during 
a  nocturnal  ramble  of  yours.  Well,  that  sounds  like 
common  sense  on  the  face  of  it.  The  criminal  has 
studied  your  habits  and  has  taken  advantage  of  them. 
Then  I  ask  if  you  are  in  the  habit  of  taking  these  mid- 
night strolls,  and  with  some  signs  of  hesitation  you  say 
that  you  have  never  done  such  a  thing  before.  Charles 
Dickens  was  very  fond  of  that  kind  of  thing,  and  I 
naturally  imagined  that  you  had  the  same  fancy.  But 
you  had  never  done  it  before.  And,  the  only  time,  a 
man  is  nearly  murdered  in  your  house." 

"  Perfectly  correct,"  David  murmured.  "  Gaboriau 
could  not  have  put  it  better.  You  might  have  been  a 
pupil  of  my  remarkable  acquaintance  Hatherly 
IBeU." 

"  I  am  a  pupil  of  Mr.  Bell's,"  Marley  said,  quietly. 
"  Seven  years  ago  he  induced  me  to  leave  the  Hudders- 
field  police  to  go  into  his  office,  where  I  stayed  until 
Mr.  Bell  gave  up  business,  when  I  applied  for  and  gained 
my  present  position.  Curious  you  should  mention  Mr. 
Bell's  name,  seeing  that  he  was  here  so  recently  as  tliis 
afternoon." 

"  Staying  in  Brighton  ?  "  Steel  asked,  eagerly.  "  What 
is  his  address  ?  "  ^ 

"  No.  219,  Rnmswick  Square." 

It  took  all  the  nerve  that  David  possessed  to  crush 
the  cry  that  rose  to  his  lips.     It  was  more  tlian  Strang* 


4J  THE  CRIMSON   BLIND. 

that  the  man  he  most  desired  to  see  at  this  juncture 
should  be  staying  in  the  very  house  where  the  novekst 
had  his  great  adventure.  And  in  the  mere  fact  might 
be  the  key  to  the  prolilem  of  the  cigar-case, 

"  I'll  certainly  see  BeU,"  he  muttered.  "  Go  on, 
Marley." 

"  Yes,  sir.  We  now  proceed  to  the  cigar-case  that 
lies  before  you.  It  was  also  lying  on  the  floor  of  your 
conservatory  on  the  night  in  question.  I  suggested 
that  here  we  might  have  found  a  clue,  taking  the  pre- 
caution at  the  same  time  to  ask  if  the  article  in  question 
was  your  property.  You  looked  at  the  case  as  one  does 
who  examines  an  object  for  the  first  time,  and  proceeded 
to  declare  that  it  was  not  yours.  I  am  quite  prepared 
to  admit  that  you  instantly  corrected  yourself.  But  I 
ask,  is  it  a  usual  thing  for  a  man  to  forget  the  ownership 
of  a  £70  cigar-case  ?  " 

"  A  nice  point,  and  I  congratulate  you  upon  it," 
David  said. 

"  Then  we  will  take  the  matter  a  little  farther.  A 
day  or  two  ago  you  were  in  dire  need  of  something  like 
£1,000.  Temporarily,  at  any  rate,  you  were  practically 
at  the  end  of  your  resources.  If  this  money  were  not 
forthcoming  in  a  few  hours  you  were  a  mined  man. 
In  viilgar  parlance,  you  would  have  been  sold  up.  Mossa 
and  Mack  had  you  in  their  grip,  and  they  were  deter- 
mined to  make  all  they  could  out  of  you.  The  morning 
following  the  outrage  at  your  house  you  call  upon  Mr. 
Mossa  and  produce  the  cigar-case  lying  on  the  table 
before  you.  From  that  case  you  produce  notes  sufficient 
to  discharge  your  debt — Bank  of  England  notes,  the 
numbers  of  which,  I  need  hardly  say,  are  in  my  pos- 
session. The  money  is  produced  from  the  case  yonder, 
which  case  we  knuw  was  sold  to  the  injured  man  by 
Mr.  Walcn." 

Marley  made  a  long  and  significant  pause.  Stee! 
noddf  d. 

"  There  seems  to  be  no  way  out  of  it,"  he  said. 

"  I  can  see  one,"  Marley  suggested.  "  Of  course,  it 
would  simplify  matters  enormously  if  you  merely  told 
me  in  confidence  whence  came  those  notes.     You  sec, 


A  POLICY   OF    SILENCE.  43 

as  I  have  th**  numbers,  1  could  verify  your  statement 
beyond  question,  and ' 

Marley  paused  again  and  shrugged  his  shoulders. 
Despite  his  cold,  official  manner,  he  was  obviously 
prompted  by  a  desire  to  serve  his  companion.  And 
yet,  simple  as  the  suggestion  seemed,  it  was  the  very 
last  thing  with  which  Steel  could  comply. 

The  noveiist  turned  the  matter  over  rapidly  in  his 
mind.  His  quick  perceptions  flashed  along  the  whole 
logical  line  instantaneously.  He  was  hke  a  man  who 
suddenly  sees  a  midnight  landscape  by  the  glare  of  a 
dazzling  flash  of  lightning. 

"  I  am  sorry,"  he  said,  slowly,  "  very  sorry,  to  dis- 
appoint you.  Were  our  situations  reversed,  I  should 
take  up  your  position  exactly.  But  it  so  happens  that 
I  cannot,  dare  not,  tell  you  where  I  got  those  notes 
from.  So  far  as  I  am  concerned  they  came  honestly 
into  my  hands  in  payment  for  special  servdces  rendered. 
It  was  part  of  my  contract  that  I  should  reveal  the 
secret  to  nobody.  If  I  told  you  the  story  you  would 
decline  to  believe  it ;  you  would  say  that  it  was  a  bril- 
liant effort  of  a  novelist's  imagination  to  get  out  of  a 
dangerous  position." 

"  I  don't  know  that  I  should,"  Marley  rephed.  "  I 
have  long  since  ceased  to  wonder  at  anything  that 
happens  in  or  connected  with  Brighton." 

"  All  the  same  I  can't  tell  you,  Marley,"  Steel  said, 
as  he  rose.  "  My  lips  are  absolutely  sealed.  The  point 
is  :   what  are  you  going  to  do  ?  " 

"  For  the  present,  nothing,"  Marley  replied.  "  So 
long  as  the  man  in  the  hospital  remains  unconscious  I 
can  do  no  more  than  pursue  what  Beaconsfield  called 
'  a  policy  of  masterly  inactivity.'  I  have  told  you  a 
good  deal  more  than  I  had  any  right  to  do,  but  I  did 
so  in  the  hope  that  you  could  assist  me.  Perhaps  in  a 
day  or  two  you  will  think  butter  of  it.     Meanwhile " 

"  Meanwhile  I  am  in  a  tight  place.  Yes,  I  see  that 
perfectly  well.  It  is  just  possible  that  I  may  scheme 
some  way  out  of  the  difficulty,  and  if  so  I  shall  be  only 
too  pleased  to  let  yuu  know.  Good-night,  Marley,  and 
many  thanks  to  you," 


44  THE  CRIMSON  BLIND. 

But  with  all  his  ingenuity  and  fertility  of  imagination 
David  could  see  no  way  out  of  the  trouble.  He  sat  up 
far  into  the  night  scheming  ;  there  was  no  flavour  in 
his  tobacco  ;  his  pictures  and  flowers,  his  silver  and 
china,  jarred  upon  him.  He  wished  with  all  his  heait 
now  that  he  had  let  everything  go.  It  need  only  have 
been  a  temporary  matter,  and  there  were  other  Cellini 
tankards,  and  intaglios,  and  line  engravings  in  the  world 
for  the  man  with  money  in  his  purse. 

He  could  see  no  way  out  of  it  at  all.  Was  it  not  pos- 
sible that  the  whole  thing  had  been  deliberately  planned 
so  as  to  land  him  and  his  brains  into  the  hands  of  some 
clever  gang  of  swindlers  ?  Had  he  been  tricked  and 
fooled  so  that  he  might  become  the  tool  of  others  ? 
It  seemed  hard  to  think  so  when  he  recalled  the  sweet 
voice  in  the  darkness  and  its  passionate  plea  for  help. 
And  yet  the  very  cigar-case  that  he  had  been  told  was 
the  one  he  admired  at  Lockhart's  had  proved  beyond 
question  to  be  one  purchased  from  Walen's  ! 

If  he  decided  to  violate  his  promise  and  tell  the  whole 
story  nobody  would  believe  him.  The  thing  was  al- 
together too  wild  and  improbable  for  that.  And  yet, 
he  reflected,  things  almost  as  imp)ossible  happen  in 
Brighton  every  day.     And  what  proof  had  he  to  offer  ? 

VVell,  there  was  one  thing  certain.  At  least  three- 
quarters  of  those  bank-notes — the  portion  he  had  col- 
lected at  the  house  with  the  crimson  blind — could  not 
possibly  be  traced  to  the  injured  man.  And,  again,  it 
was  no  fault  of  Steel's  that  Marley  had  obtained  posses- 
sion of  the  numbers  of  the  notes.  If  the  detective  chose 
to  ferret  out  facts  for  himself  no  blame  could  attach  to 
Steel.  If  those  peoplt  had  only  chosen  to  leave  out  of 
the  question  that  confounded  cigar-case  ! 

David's  train  of  thought  was  broken  as  an  idea  came 
to  him.  It  was  not  so  long  since  he  had  a  facsimile 
cigar-case  in  his  hand  at  Lockhart's,  in  North  Street. 
Somebody  connected  with  the  mystery  must  have  seen 
him  admiring  it  and  reluctantly  dechning  the  purchase, 
because  the  voice  from  the  telephone  told  him  that  the 
case  was  a  present  and  that  it  had  come  from  the  famouf 
North  Street  establishment. 


A  POLICY   OF    SILENCE.  45 

••  By  Jove  !  "  Da\nd  cried.  "  I'll  go  to  Lockhart's  to- 
morrow and  see  if  the  case  is  still  there.  If  so,  I  may 
be  able  to  trace  it." 

Fairly  early  the  next  morning  David  was  m  North 
Street.  For  the  time  being  he  had  put  his  work  aside 
altogether.  He  could  not  have  written  a  dozen  con- 
secutive lines  to  save  the  situation.  The  mere  effort 
to  preserve  a  cheerful  face  before  his  mother  was  a 
torture.  And  at  any  time  he  might  find  liimself  forced 
to  meet  a  criminal  charge. 

The  gentlemanly  assistant  at  Lockhart's  remembered 
Steel  and  the  cigar-case  perfectly  well,  but  he  was 
afraid  that  the  article  had  been  sold.  No  doubt  it 
would  be  possible  to  obtain  a  facsimile  in  the  course  of 
a  few  days. 

"  Only  I  required  that  particular  one,"  Steel  said. 
"  Can  you  tell  me  when  it  was  sold  and  who  purchased 
it  ?  " 

A  junior  partner  did,  and  could  give  some  kind  of 
information.  Several  people  had  admired  the  case,  and 
it  had  been  on  the  point  of  sale  several  times.  Finally, 
it  had  passed  into  the  hands  of  an  American  gentleman 
staying  at  the  Metropole. 

"  Can  you  tell  me  his  name  ?  "  David  asked,  "  or 
describe  him  ?  " 

"  Well,  I  can't,  sir,"  the  junior  partner  said,  frankly. 
"  I  haven't  the  slightest  recollection  of  the  gentleman. 
He  wrote  from  the  Metropole  on  the  hotel  paper  describ- 
ing the  case  and  its  price  and  inclosed  the  full  amount 
in  ten-dollar  notes  and  asked  to  have  the  case  sent  by 
post  to  the  hotel.  When  we  ascertained  that  the  notes 
were  all  right,  we  naturally  posted  the  case  as  desired, 
and  there,  so  far  as  we  are  concerned,  was  an  end  of 
the  matter." 

"  You  don't  recollect  his  name  ?  " 

"  Oh,  yes.  The  name  was  John  Smith.  If  there  is 
anything  wrong " 

David  hastily  gave  the  desired  assurance.  He  wanted 
to  arouse  no  suspicion.  All  the  same,  he  left  Lockhart's 
with  a  plethora  of  suspicions  of  his  own.  Doubtless  the 
Jewellers  would  be  well  and  fairly  satisfied  so  long  as 


46  THE  CRIMSON  BLIND. 

the  case  had  been  paid  for,  but  from  the  standpoint  of 
David's  superior  knowledge  the  whole  transaction  fairly 
bristled  with  suspicion. 

Not  for  one  moment  did  Steel  believe  in  the  American 
at  the  Metropole.  Somebody  stayed  there  doubtless 
under  the  name  of  John  Smith,  and  that  said  somebody 
had  paid  for  the  cigar-case  in  dollar  notes  the  tracing 
of  which  might  prove  a  task  of  years.  Nor  was  it  the 
slightest  use  to  mquire  at  tlie  Metropole,  where  practi- 
cally everybody  is  identified  by  a  number,  and  where 
scores  come  and  go  every  day.  John  Smith  would  only 
have  to  ask  for  his  letters  and  then  drop  quietly  into  a 
sea  of  obhvion. 

Well,  David  had  got  his  information,  and  a  lot  of 
use  it  was  likely  to  prove  to  him.  As  he  walked  thought- 
fully homewards  he  was  debating  in  his  mind  whether 
or  not  he  might  venture  to  call  at  or  write  to  219,  Bruns- 
wick Square,  and  lay  his  difficulties  before  the  people 
there.  At  any  rate,  be  reflected,  with  grim  bitterness, 
they  would  know  that  he  was  not  romancing.  If 
nothing  turned  up  in  the  meantime  he  would  certainly 
visit  Brunswick  Square. 

He  sat  in  his  own  room  puzzling  the  matter  out  till 
his  head  ached  and  the  flowers  before  him  reeled  in  a 
dazzling  whirl  of  colour.  He  looked  round  for  inspira- 
tion, now  desperately,  as  he  frequently  did  when  the 
warp  of  his  dehcate  fancy  tangled.  The  smallest  thing 
sometimes  fed  the  machine  again — a  patch  of  sunshine, 
the  chip  on  a  plate,  the  damaged  edge  of  a  frame.  Then 
his  eye  fell  on  the  telephone  and  he  jumped  to  his  feet. 

"  What  a  fool  I  am  !  "  he  exclaimed.  "  If  I  had  been 
plotting  this  business  out  as  a  story,  I  should  have 
thought  of  that  long  ago.  .  .  .  No,  I  don't  want  any 
number,  at  least,  not  in  that  way.  Two  nights  ago  I 
was  caUed  up  by  somebody  from  London  who  held  the 
line  for  fully  half  an  hour  or  so.  I've — I've  forgotten 
the  address  of  my  correspondent,  but  if  you  can  ascer- 
tain the  number.  .  .  yes,  I  shall  be  here  if  you  will 
ring  me  up  when  you  have  got  it.  .  .  .     Thanks." 

Half  an  hour  passed  before  the  bell  trilled  again. 
David  listened  eagerly.     At  any  rate,  now  he  was  going 


A   POLICY  OF   SILENCE.  47 

to  know  the  number  whence  the  mysterious  message 
came — 0017,  Kensington,  was  the  number.  David 
muttered  his  thanks  and  flew  to  his  big  telephone  direc- 
tory. Yes,  there  it  was — "  0017,  446,  Prince's  Gate, 
Gilead  Gates." 

The  big  volume  dropped  with  a  crash  on  the  floor. 
David  looked  down  at  the  crumpled  volume  with  dim, 
misty  amazement. 

"  Gilead  Gates,"  he  murmured.  "  Quaker,  million- 
aire, and  philanthropist.  One  of  the  most  highly- 
esteemed  and  popular  men  in  England.  And  from 
his  house  came  the  message  which  has  been  the  source 
of  all  the  mischief.  And  yet  there  are  critics  who  say 
the  plots  of  my  novels  are  too  fantastic  1 " 


CHAPTER    Vn. 

wo.   218,    BRUNSWICK    SQUARE. 

The  emotion  of  surprise  seemed  to  have  left  Steel  al- 
together. After  the  last  discovery  he  was  prepared  to 
believe  anything.  Had  anybody  told  him  that  the 
whole  Bench  of  Bishops  was  at  the  bottom  of  the  mys- 
tery he  would  have  responded  that  the  suggestion  was 
highly  probable. 

"  Still,  it's  what  the  inimitable  Dick  Swiveller  would 
call  a  staggerer,"  he  muttered.  "  Gates,  the  millionaire, 
the  one  great  capitalist  who  has  the  profound  respect 
of  the  labour  world.  No,  a  man  with  a  record  like  that 
couldn't  have  anything  to  do  with  it.  Still,  it  must 
have  been  from  his  house  that  the  mysterious  message 
came.  The  post-office  people  working  the  telephone 
trunk  line  would  know  that — a  fact  which  probably 
escaped  the  party  who  called  me  up.  .  .  .  I'll  go  to 
Bninsvvick  Square  and  see  that  woman.  Money  or  no 
money,  I'll  not  lie  under  an  imputation  like  this." 

There  was  one  thing  to  be  done  beforehand,  and  that 
was  to  see  Dr.  Cross.  From  the  latter's  manner  he 
evidently  knew  nothing  of  the  charge  hanging  over 
Steel's  head.  Marley  was  evidently  keeping  that  close 
to  himself  and  speaking  to  nobody. 

"  Oh,  the  man  is  better,"  Cross  said,  cheerfully. 
**  He  hasn't  been  identified  yet,  though  the  Press  has 
given  us  every  assistance.  I  fancy  the  poor  fellow  is 
Koing  to  recover,  though  I  am  afraid  it  will  be  a  long 
fob.' 


NO.  218.  BRUNSWICK  SQUARE.  49 

*'  He  hasn't  recovered  consciousness,  then  ?  " 

"  No,  and  neither  will  he  for  some  time  to  come. 
There  seems  to  be  a  certain  pressure  on  the  brain  which 
we  are  unable  to  locate,  and  we  dare  not  try  the  Rontgen 
rays  yet.  So  on  the  whole  you  are  likely  to  escape  with 
a  charge  of  aggravated  assault." 

David  smiled  grimly  as  he  went  his  way.  He  walked 
the  whole  distance  to  Hove  along  North  Street  and  the 
Western  Road,  finally  turning  down  Brunswick  Square 
instead  of  up  it,  as  he  had  done  on  the  night  of  the 
great  adventure.  He  wondered  vaguely  why  he  had 
been  specially  instructed  to  approach  the  house  that 
way. 

Here  it  was  at  last,  219,  Brunswick  Square — 220 
above  and,  of  course,  218  below  the  house.  It  looked 
pretty  well  the  same  in  the  daylight,  the  same  door, 
the  same  knocker,  and  the  same  crimson  blind  in  the 
centre  of  the  big  Vjay  window.  David  knocked  at  the 
door  with  a  vague  feeling  of  uncertainty  as  to  what  he 
was  going  to  do  next.  A  very  staid,  old-fashioned 
footman  answered  his  ring  and  inquired  his  business. 

"  Can — can  I  see  your  mistress  ?  "  David  stammered. 

The  staid  footman  became,  if  possible,  a  little  more 
reserved.  If  the  gentleman  would  send  in  his  card  he 
would  see  if  Miss  Ruth  was  disengaged.  David  found 
himself  vaguely  wondering  what  Miss  Ruth's  surname 
might  be.  The  old  Biblical  name  was  a  great  favourite 
of  his. 

"  I'm  afraid  I  haven't  a  card,"  he  said.  "  Will  you 
any  that  Mr.  Steel  would  like  to  see — er — Miss  Ruth  for 
a  few  minutes  ?     My  business  is  exceedingly  pressing." 

The  staid  footman  led  the  way  into  the  dining-room. 
Evidently  this  was  no  frivolous  house,  where  gidtly 
butterflies  came  and  went  ;  such  gaudy  insects  would 
have  been  chilled  by  the  solemn  doccjrum  of  the  place. 
David  followed  into  the  dining-room  in  a  dreamy  kind 
of  way,  and  with  the  feeling  that  comes  to  us  all  at 
times,  the  sensation  of  having  done  and  seen  the  same 
thing  before. 

Nothing  had  l>een  altered.  The  same  plain,  hand- 
tome,  expensive  furniture  was  here,  the  same  mahogany 

D 


50  THE  CRIMSON   BLIND. 

and  engravings,  the  same  dull  red  walls,  with  the  same 
light  stain  over  the  fire-place — a  dull,  prosperous, 
square-toed-looking  place.  The  electric  fittings  looked 
a  little  different,  but  that  might  havf  been  fancy.  It 
was  the  identical  room.  Da\id  had  run  his  quarry  to 
earth,  and  he  began  to  feel  his  spirits  rising.  Doubtless 
he  could  scheme  some  way  out  of  the  difficulty  and  spare 
his  phantom  friends  at  the  same  time. 

"  You  wanted  to  see  me,  sir  ?  Will  you  be  so  good 
as  to  state  your  business  ?  " 

David  turned  with  a  start.  He  saw  before  him  a 
slight,  graceful  figure,  and  a  lovely,  refined  face  in  a 
frame  of  the  most  beautiful  hair  that  he  had  ever  seen. 
The  grey  eyes  were  demure,  with  just  t  suggestion  of 
mirth  in  them  ;  the  lips  were  made  for  laughter.  It 
was  as  if  some  dainty  little  actress  were  masquerading 
in  Salvation  garb,  only  the  dress  was  all  priceless  lace 
that  touched  Davnd's  artistic  perception.  He  could 
imagine  the  girl  as  deeply  in  earnest  as  going  through 
fire  and  water  for  her  convictions.  Also  he  could  imagine 
her  as  Puck  or  Ariel — there  was  rippling  laughter  in  every 
note  of  that  voice  of  hers. 

"  I — I,  eh,  yes,"  Steel  stammered.  "  You  see,  I — if 
I  only  knew  whom  I  had  the  pleasure  of  addressing  ?  " 

"  I  am  Miss  Ruth  Gates,  at  your  service.  Still,  you 
asked  for  me  by  name." 

David  made  no  reply  for  a  moment.  He  was  tripping 
over  surprises  again.  What  a  fool  he  had  been  not  to 
look  out  the  name  of  the  occupant  of  219  in  the  directory. 
It  was  pretty  evident  that  Gilead  Gates  had  a  house 
in  Brighton  as  well  as  one  in  town.  Not  only  had  that 
telephone  message  emanated  from  the  millionaire's 
residence,  but  it  had  brought  Steel  to  the  philanthropist's 
abodw  in  Brighton.  If  Mr.  Gates  himself  had  strolled 
into  the  room  singing  a  comic  song  David  would  have 
expressed  no  emotion. 

'  Daughter  of  the  famous  Gilead  Gates  ?  "  David 
asked,  feebly. 

"  No,  niece,  and  housekeeper.  This  is  not  my  uncle's 
own  house,  he  has  merely  taken  this  for  a  time.  But, 
Mr.  Steel " 


NO.  218.  BRUNSWICK  SQUARE.  51 

*'  Mr.  David  Steel — is  my  name  familiar  to  you  ?  " 

David  asked  the  question  somewhat  eagerly.  As  yet 
he  was  only  feeling  his  way  and  keenly  on  the  look-out 
for  anything  in  the  way  of  a  clue.  He  saw  the  face  of 
the  girl  grow  white  as  the  table-cover,  he  saw  the  lurking 
laughter  die  in  her  eyes,  and  the  purple  black  terror 
dilating  the  pu])ils. 

"  I — I  know*"you  quite  well  by  reputation,"  the  girl 
gasped.  Her  little  hands  were  pressed  to  her  left  side 
as  if  to  check  some  deadly  pain  there.  "  Indeed,  I  may 
say  I  have  read  most  of  your  stories.  I — I  hope  that 
there  is  nothing  wrong." 

Her  self-possession  and  courage  were  coming  back  to 
her  now.  But  the  spasm  of  fear  that  had  shaken  her 
to  the  soul  was  not  lost  upon  Steel. 

"  I  trust  not,"  he  said,  gravely.  "  Did  you  know  that 
I  was  here  two  nights  ago  ?  " 

"  Here !  "  the  girl  cried.  "  Impossible !  In  the 
house  !  The  night  before  last !  Why,  we  were  all  in 
bed  long  before  midnight." 

"  I  am  not  aware  that  I  said  anything  about  mid- 
night," David  responded,  coldly. 

An  angry  flush  came  sweeping  over  the  face  of  the 
girl,  annoyance  at  her  own  folly,  David  thought.  She 
added  quickly  that  she  and  her  uncle  had  only  been 
down  in  Brighton  for  three  days. 

"  Nevertheless,  I  was  in  this  room  two  nights  ago," 
David  replied.  "  If  you  know  all  about  it,  I  pray  you 
to  give  me  certain  information  of  vital  importance  to 
me  ;  if  not,  I  shall  be  compelled  to  keep  my  extraor- 
dinary story  to  myself,  for  otherwise  you  would  never 
believe  it.  Do  you  or  do  you  not  kjiow  of  my  visit 
here  ?  " 

The  girl  bent  her  head  till  Steel  could  see  nothing 
but  the  glorious  amber  of  her  hair.  He  could  see,  too, 
the  the  fine  old  lace  round  her  throat  was  tossing  Uke 
a  cork  on  a  stream. 

"  I  can  tell  you  nothing,"  she  said.  "  Nothing, 
nothing,  nothing." 

It  was  the  voice  of  one  who  would  liave  spoken  had 
she  dared.     With  anybody  else  Steel  would  nave  been 


3a  THE  CRIMSON   BLIND. 

furiously  angry.  In  the  present  case  he  could  only 
admire  the  deep,  almost  pathetic,  loyalty  to  somebody 
who  stood  behind. 

"  Are  you  sure  you  were  in  this  house  ?  "  the  ^irl 
asked,  at  length. 

"  Certain !  "  David  exclaimed.  "  The  walls,  the 
pictures,  the  furniture — all  the  same.  I  could  swear 
to  the  place  anywhere.  Miss  Gates,  if  I  cannot  prove 
that  I  was  here  at  the  time  I  name,  it  is  Ukely  to  go 
very  hard  with  me.*' 

"  You  mean  that  a  certain  inconvenience " 

"  Inconvenience  !  Do  you  call  a  charge  of  murder,  or 
manslaughter  at  best,  inconvenient  ?  Have  you  not 
seen  the  local,  papers  ?  Don't  you  know  that  two  nights 
ago,  during  my  absence  from  home,  a  strange  man  was 
practically  done  to  death  in  my  conservatory  ?  And 
during  the  time  of  the  outrage,  as  sure  as  Heaven  is 
above  us,  I  was  in  this  room." 

"  I  am  sorry,  but  I  am  sure  that  you  were  not." 

"  Ah,  you  are  going  to  disappoint  me  ?  And  yet  yoa 
know  something.  You  might  have  been  the  guiltiest  of 
creatures  yourself  when  I  disclosed  my  identity.  No 
prisoner  detected  in  some  shameful  crime  ever  looked 
more  guUty  than  you." 

The  girl  stood  there,  saying  nothing.  Had  she  rang 
the  bell  and  ordered  the  footman  to  put  him  out  of  the 
house,  Steel  would  have  had  no  cause  for  complaint. 
But  she  did  nothing  of  the  kind.  She  stood  there  torn 
by  conflicting  emotions. 

"  I  can  give  you  no  information,"  she  said,  presently* 
"But  I  am  as  positive  one  way  as  you  are  another  that 
you  have  never  been  in  this  house  before.  I  may  sur- 
mise things,  but  as  I  hope  to  be  judged  fairly  I  can  give 
you  no  information.  I  am  only  a  poor,  unhappy  girl, 
who  is  doing  what  she  deems  to  be  the  best  for  all  parties 
concerned.  And  I  can  tell  you  nothing,  nothing.  Oh, 
won't  you  believe  that  I  would  do  anything  to  serve  you 
if  I  were  only  free  ?  " 

She  held  out  her  hand  with  an  imploring  gesture,  the 
red  lips  were  quivering,  and  her  eyes  were  full  of  tears. 
David's  warm  heart  went  out  to  her ;    he  forgot  all  his 


NO.  218.   BRUNSWICK   SQUARE.  53 

own  troubles  and  dangers  in  his  sympathy  for  the  lovely 
creature  in  distress. 

"  Pray  say  no  more  about  it,"  he  cried.  He  caught 
the  outstretched  hand  in  his  and  carried  it  to  his  hps. 
"  I  don't  wish  to  hurry  you  ;  in  fact,  haste  is  dangerous. 
And  there  is  ample  time.  Nor  am  I  going  to  press  yoii. 
Still,  before  long  you  may  find  some  way  to  give  me  a 
clue  without  sacrificing  a  jot  of  your  fine  loyalty  to — 
well,  others.  I  would  not  distress  you  for  the  world, 
Miss  Gates.  Don't  you  think  that  this  has  been  the 
most  extraordinary  interview  ?  " 

The  tears  trembled  like  diamonds  on  the  girl's  long 
lashes  and  a  smile  flashed  over  her  face.  The  sudden 
transformation  was  wonderfully  fascinating. 

"  What  you  might  call  an  impossible  interview,"  she 
laughed.  *'  And  all  the  more  impossible  because  it  was 
quite  impossible  that  you  could  ever  have  been  here 
before." 

"  When  I  was  in  this  room  two  nights  ago,"  David 
protested,  "  I  saw " 

"  Did  you  see  me,  for  instance  ?  If  not,  you  couldn't 
have  been  here." 

A  small,  misshapen  figure,  with  the  face  of 
a  Byron — Apollo  on  the  bust  of  a  Satyr — came 
in  from  behind  the  folding  doors  at  the  back  of  the 
dining-room  carrying  some  letters  in  his  hand.  The 
stranger's  dark,  piercing  eyes  were  fixed  inquiringly 
upon  Steel. 

"  Bell,"  the  latter  cried  ;  "  Hatherly  Bell !  you  have 
been  hstening !  " 

The  little  man  with  the  godlike  head  admitted  the 
fact,  coolly.  He  had  been  writing  letters  in  the  back 
room  and  escape  had  been  impossible  for  him. 

"  Funny  enough,  I  was  going  to  look  you  up  to-day," 
he  said.  "  You  did  me  a  great  service  once,  and  I  am 
longing  to  repay  you.  I  came  down  here  to  give  my 
friend  Gates  the  benefit  of  my  advice  and  assistance 
over  a  large  philanthropic  scheme  he  has  just  evolved. 
And,  writing  letters  yonder  on  that  subject,  I  heard 
your  extraordinary  conversation.  Can  I  help  you. 
Steel  ?  " 


54  THE  CRIMSON  BLIND. 

**  My  dear  fellow,"  David  cried,  "  if  you  offered  m€ 
every  intellect  in  Europe  I  should  not  choose  one  of 
them  so  gladly  as  yours." 

"  Then  let  us  shake  hands  on  the  bargain.  And  now 
I  am  jj'  'ing  to  stagger  you  ;  I  heard  you  state  positively 
that  two  nights  ago  you  were  in  this  very  room." 

"  I  am  prepared  to  testify  the  fact  on  oath  anvwhore, 
my  dear  Bell." 

"  Very  well ;  will  you  be  good  enough  to  state  the 
hour?" 

"  Certainly.  I  was  here  from  one  o'clock — say  be- 
tween one  and  two." 

"  And  I  was  here  also.  From  eleven  o'clock  till  two 
I  was  in  this  very  room  working  out  some  calculations 
at  this  very  table  by  the  aid  of  my  reading-lamp,  no 
other  light  being  in  the  room,  or  even  in  the  house,  as 
far  as  I  know.  It  is  one  of  my  fads — as  fools  call  them 
— to  work  in  a  large,  dark  room  with  one  brilliant  light 
only.  Therefore  you  could  not  possibly  have  been  in 
the  house,  to  say  nothing  of  this  room,  on  the  night  in 
question." 

David  nodded  feebly.  There  was  no  combating  Bell's 
statement. 

"  I  presume  that  this  is  No.  219  ?  "  he  asked. 

"  Certainly  it  is,"  Miss  Gates  replied.  "  We  are  all 
agreed  about  that." 

"  Because  I  read  the  number  over  the  fanlight,"  Steel 
went  on.  "  And  I  came  here  by  arrangement.  And 
there  was  everything  as  I  see  it  now.  Bell,  you  must 
either  cure  me  of  this  delusion,  or  you  must  prove 
logically  to  me  that  I  have  made  a  mistake.  So  far  as 
I  am  concerned,  I  am  like  a  child  struggling  with  the 
alphabet." 

"  We'll  start  now,"  said  Bell.     "  Come  along." 

Steel  rose  none  too  willingly.  He  would  fain  have 
lingered  with  Ruth.  She  held  out  her  hand  ;  there  was 
a  warm,  glad  smile  on  her  face. 

"  May  you  be  successful,"  she  whispered.  "  Come 
and  see  me  again,  because  I  shall  be  very,  very  anxious 

to  know.     And  I  am  not  without  guilt If  you 

only  knew !  " 


NO.  218,  BRUNSWICK  SQUARE.  55 

"  And  I  may  come  again  ?  "  David  said,  eagerly. 

A  further  smile  and  a  warm  pressure  of  the  hand 
were  the  only  reply.  Presently  Steel  was  standing 
outside  in  the  road  with  BeU.  The  latter  was  glancing 
at  the  house  on  either  side  of  219.  The  higher  house 
was  let ;  the  one  nearest  the  3ea — 218 — was  empty. 
A  bill  in  the  window  gave  the  information  that  the 
property  was  in  the  hands  of  Messrs.  Wallace  and  Brown, 
Station  Quadrant,  where  keys  could  be  obtained. 

"  We'll  make  a  start  straightaway,"  said  BeU.  "  Come 
along." 

"  Where  are  you  going  to  at  that  pace  ? "  Steel 
asked. 

"  Going  to  interview  Messrs.  Wallace  and  Brown.  At 
the  present  moment  I  am  a  gentleman  who  is  in  search 
of  a  house  of  residence,  and  I  have  a  weakness  for  Bruns- 
wick Square  in  particular,  especially  for  No.  218.  Unless 
I  am  greatly  mistaken  I  am  going  to  show  you  something 
that  will  startle  even  the  mo»t  callous  novelist." 


CHAPTER    VIII. 

HATHERLY   BELL, 

The  queer,  misshapen  figure  striding  along  by  Steel's 
side  would  have  attracted  attention  anj^where  ;  indeed, 
Hatherly  Bell  had  been  an  attractive  personality  from 
his  schooldays.  A  strange  mixture  of  vanity  and 
brilliant  mental  qualities,  Bell  had  almost  as  many 
enemies  as  friends.  He  was  morbidly  miserable  over 
the  score  of  his  personal  appearance  despite  the  extra- 
ordinary beauty  of  his  fnco — to  be  pitied  or  even  sym- 
pathised with  almost  maddened  hun.  Yet  there  were 
many  women  who  would  gladly  have  shared  the  lot  of 
Hatherly  BeU. 

For  there  was  strength  in  the  perfectly  moulded  face, 
as  well  as  beauty.  It  was  the  face  of  a  man  possessed 
of  marvellous  intellectual  powers,  and  none  the  less 
attractive  because,  while  the  skin  was  as  fair  as  a  woman's 
and  the  eyes  as  clear  as  a  child's,  the  wavy  hair  was 
absolutely  white.  The  face  of  a  man  who  had  suffered 
fiercely  and  long.     A  face  hiding  a  great  sorrow. 

Time  was  when  Bell  had  promised  to  stand  la  the 
front  rank  of  operative  physicians.  In  brain  troubles 
and  mental  disorders  he  had  distinguished  himself. 
He  had  a  marvellous  faculty  for  psychological  research ; 
indeed,  he  had  gone  so  far  as  to  declare  that  insanity 
was  merely  a  disease  and  capable  of  cure  the  same  as 
any  ordinary  malady.  "  If  Bell  goes  on  as  he  has 
started,"  a  great  Gennan  sjjecialist  once  declared,  "  he 

56 


FATHERLY    BELL  57 

will  inevitably  prove  to  be  the  greatest  benefactor  to 
mankind  since  the  beginning  of  the  world."  Bell  was 
to  be  the  man  of  his  time. 

And  then  suddenly  he  had  faded  out  as  a  star  drops 
from  the  zenith.  There  had  been  dark  rumours  of  a 
terrible  scandal,  a  prosecution  burked  by  strong  per- 
sonal influence,  mysterious  paragraphs  in  the  papers, 
and  the  disappearance  of  the  name  of  Hatherly  Bell 
from  the  rank  of  great  medical  jurists.  Nobody  seemed 
to  know  anything  about  it,  but  Bell  was  ignored  by  all 
except  a  few  old  friends,  and  henceforth  he  devoted  his 
attention  to  criminology  and  the  evolution  of  crime. 
It  was  Bell's  boast  that  he  could  take  a  dozen  men  at 
haphazard  and  give  you  their  vices  and  virtures  point- 
blank.     He  had  a  marvellous  gift  that  way. 

A  few  people  stuck  to  him,  Gilead  Gates  amongst  the 
number.  The  millionaire  philanthropist  had  need  of 
someone  to  pick  the  sheep  from  the  goats,  and  Bell 
made  no  mistakes.  David  Steel  had  been  able  to  do 
the  specialist  some  slight  service  a  year  or  two  before, 
and  Bell  had  been  pleased  to  magnify  this  into  a  great 
favour. 

"  You  are  a  fast  walker,"  David  said,  presently. 

".That's  because  I  am  thinking  fast,"  Bell  replied. 
"  Steel,  you  are  in  gieat  trouble  ?  " 

"  It  needs  no  brilliant  effort  on  your  part  to  see  that," 
David  said,  bitterly.  "  Besides,  you  heard  a  great  deal 
just  now  when  you — you " 

"  Listened,"  Bell  said,  coolly.  "  Of  course  I  had  no 
intention  of  playing  eavesdropper ;  and  I  had  no  idea 
who  the  Mr.  Steel  was  who  wanted  to  see  Miss  Gates. 
They  come  day  by  day,  my  dear  fellow,  garbed  in  the 
garb  of  Pall  Mall  or  Petticoat  Lane  as  the  case  may  be, 
but  they  all  come  for  money.  Sometimes  it  is  a  shilling, 
sometimes  £100.  But  I  did  not  gather  from  your  chat 
with  Miss  Gates  what  j'our  trouble  was." 

"  Perha{:>s  not,  but  Miss  Gates  knew  perfectly  welL" 

BcU  patted  his  conijianion,  approvingly. 

"  It  IS  a  pleasure  to  help  a  lucid-minded  man  like 
yourself,"  he  said.  "  You  go  straight  to  the  root  of  the 
sore  and  cut  all  the  superfluous  matter  away.    I  was 


58  THE  CRIMSON   BLIND. 

deeply  interested  in  the  conversation  which  I  overheard 
just  now.  You  are  in  great  trouble,  and  that  trouble 
is  connected  with  219,  Brunswick  Sqnare — a  house  where 
you  have  never  boon  before." 

"  My  dear  chaji,  I  was  in  that  dining-room  two  nights 
ago.     Nothing  will  convince  me  to  the " 

"  There  you  are  wrong,  because  I  am  going  to  con- 
vince you  to  the  contrary.  You  may  smile  and  shake 
your  head,  but  before  an  hour  has  ])assed  I  am  going 
to  convince  you  beyond  all  question  that  you  were  never 
inside  No.  219." 

"  Brave  words,"  David  muttered.  "  Still,  an  hour  is 
not  a  lon,c:  time  to  wait." 

"  No.  But  you  must  enlighten  me  if  I  am  to  assist 
you.  I  am  profoundly  interested.  You  come  to  the 
house  of  my  friend  on  a  desperate  errand.  Miss  Gates 
is  a  perfect  stranger  to  you,  and  yet  the  mere  discovery 
of  your  identity  fills  her  with  the  most  painful  agitation. 
Therefore,  though  you  have  never  been  in  219  before, 
you  are  pretty  certain,  and  I  am  pretty  certain,  that 
Ruth  Gates  knows  a  deal  about  the  thing  that  is 
touching  you.  On  the  contrary,  I  know  nothing  on  that 
head.     Won't  you  let  me  into  the  secret  ?  " 

"  I'll  tell  you  part,"  Steel  replied.  "  And  I'll  put  it 
pithily.  For  mere  argument  we  assume  that  I  am 
selected  to  as<-^ist  a  damsel  in  distress  who  lives  at  No.  2iq, 
Brunswick  Square.  We  will  assume  that  the  conver- 
sation leading  up  to  the  flattering  selection  took  place 
over  the  telephone.  As  a  matter  of  fact,  it  did  take 
place  over  the  telephone.  The  thing  was  involved  with 
so  much  secrecy  that  I  naturally  hesitated.  I  was 
offered  £1,000  for  my  services  ;  also  I  was  reminded  by 
my  unseen  messenger  that  I  was  in  dire  need  of  that 
money." 

"  And  were  you  ?  " 

"  My  dear  fellow,  I  don't  fancy  thit  I  should  have 
hesitated  at  burglary  *:>  get  it.  And  all  I  had  to  do 
was  to  moot  a  lady  secretly  in  the  dead  of  night  at 
No.  219  and  tell  her  how  to  get  out  of  a  certain  dilTiculty. 
It  all  resolved  itself  round  the  synopsis  of  a  proposed 
new  story  of  mine.     But  I  had  better  go  into  details,'* 


HATHERLY  BELL.  59 

David  proceeded  to  do  so.  Bell,  with  liis  arm  crooked 
through  that  of  liis  companion,  followed  the  story  with 
an  intelligent  and  flattering  interest. 

"  Very  strange  and  very  fascinating,"  he  said,  pre- 
sently. "  I'll  think  it  out  presently.  Nol<ody  could 
possibly  think  of  anything  but  their  toes  in  Western 
Koad.     Go  on." 

"  Now  I  am  coming  to  the  point.  I  had  the  money, 
1  had  that  lovely  cigar-case,  and  subsequently  I  had 
that  battered  and  bleeding  specimen  of  humanity 
dumped  down  in  the  most  amazing  manner  in  my 
conservatory.  The  cigar-case  lay  on  the  conservatory 
floor,  remember — swept  off  the  table  when  I  clutched 
for  the  telephone  bell  to  call  for  the  police.  When 
Marley  came  he  asked  if  the  cigar-case  was  mine.  At 
first  I  said  no,  because,  you  see " 

"  I  see  quite  plainly.     Pray  go  on." 

"  Well,  I  lose  that  cigar-case  ;  I  leave  it  in  the  offices 
of  Mossa,  to  whom  I  pay  nearly  £1,000.  Mossa,  to  spite 
me,  takes  or  sends  the  case  to  the  police,  who  advertise 
it  not  knowing  that  it  is  mine.  You  will  see  why  they 
advertise  it  presently " 

"  Because  it  belonged  to  the  injured  man,  eh  ?  " 

David  pulled  up  and  regarded  his  companion  with 
amazement. 

"  How  on  earth "  he  gasped.     "  Do  you  mean  to 

say  that  you  know " 

"  Notliing  at  present,  I  assure  you,"  Bell  said,  coolly. 
"  Call  it  intuition,  if  you  like.  I  prefer  to  call  it 
the  result  of  logical  mental  process.  I'm  right,  of 
course  ?  " 

"  Of  course  you  are.  I'd  claimed  that  case  for  my 
own.  I  had  cut  m}-  initials  inside,  as  I  showed  Marley 
when  I  went  to  the  police-station.  And  then  Marley 
tells  me  how  I  paid  Mossa  nearly  £1,000  ;  how  the 
money  must  have  come  into  my  hands  in  the  nick  of 
time.  That  was  pretty  bad  when  I  couldn't  for  the 
life  of  me  give  a  lucid  reason  for  the  possession  of  those 
notes  ;  but  there  was  worse  to  come.  In  the  pocket 
of  the  injured  man  was  a  receipt  for  a  diamond-studded 
gun-metal  rjgar-case,  purchased  the  day  of  the  outrage. 


6o  THE  CRIMSON  BLIND. 

And  Walen,  the  jeweller,  proved  beyond  a  doubt  that 
the  case  I  claimed  was  purchased  at  his  shop." 

Bell  nodded  gravely. 

"  Which  places  you  in  an  exceedingly  awkward 
position,"  he  said. 

"  A  mild  way  of  putting  it,"  David  repUed.  "  If 
that  fellow  dies  the  police  have  enough  evidence  to 
hang  me.  And  what  is  my  defence  ?  The  story  of 
my  visit  to  No.  219.  And  who  would  believe  that 
cock-and-bull  story  ?  Fancy  a  drama  like  that  being 
played  out  in  the  house  of  such  a  pillar  of  respectability 
as  Gilead  Gates." 

"  It  isn't  his  house,"  said  Bell.  "  He  only  takes  it 
furnished." 

"  In  anybody  else  your  remark  would  be  puerile," 
David  said,  irritably. 

"  It's  a  deeper  remark  than  you  are  aware  of  at  pre- 
sent," Bell  replied.  "  I  quite  see  your  position.  Nobody 
would  believe  you,  of  course.  But  why  not  go  to  the 
post-office  and  ask  the  number  of  the  telephone  that 
called  you  up  from  London  ?  "  i^ 

The  question  seemed  to  amuse  David  shghtly.  Then 
his  lips  were  drawn  humorously. 

"  When  my  logical  formula  came  back  I  thought  of 
that,"  he  said.  "  On  inquiring  as  to  who  it  was  rang 
me  up  on  that  fateful  occasion  I  learnt  that  the  number 
was  0017  Kensington  and  that " 

"  Gates's  own  number  at  Prince's  Gate,"  Bell  ex- 
claimed.    "  The  plot  thickens." 

"  It  does,  indeed,"  David  said,  grimly.  "  It  is  Willde 
Collins  gone  mad,  Gaboriau  in  extremis,  Du  Boisgobey 
suffering  from  delirium  tremens.  I  go  to  Gates's  house 
here,  and  am  solemnly  told  in  the  midst  of  surroundings 
that  I  can  swear  to  that  I  have  never  been  there  before  ; 
the  whole  mad  expedition  is  launched  by  the  turning 
of  the  handle  of  a  telephone  in  tlie  house  of  a  distin- 
guished, trusted,  if  prosaic,  citizen.  Somebody  gets  hold 
of  the  synopsis  of  a  story  of  mine.  Heaven  knows  how " 

"  That  is  fairiy  easy.  The  synopsis  was  short,  I 
suppose  ?  " 

Only  a  few  lines,  say  1,000  words,  a  sheet  of  (>aper. 


HATHERLY   P.ELti  6i 

My  writing  is  very  small.  It  was  tucked  mto  a  half- 
penny open  envelope — a  mazagine  office  envelope, 
marked  *  Proof,  urgent.'  There  were  the  proofs  of  a 
short  story  in  the  buff  envelope." 

"  Which  reached  its  destination  in  due  course  ?  " 

**  So  I  hear  this  morning.     But  how  on  earth " 

"  Easily  enough.  The  whole  thing  gets  slipped  into 
a  larger  open  envelope,  the  kind  of  big-mouthed  affair 
that  enterprising  firms  send  out  circulars  and  patterns 
with.  This  falls  into  the  hands  of  the  woman  who  is 
at  the  bottom  of  this  and  every  other  case,  and  she 
reads  the  synopsis  from  sheer  curiosity.  The  case  fits 
her  case,  and  there  you  are.  Mind  you,  I  don't  say  that 
this  is  how  the  thing  actuaUy  happened,  but  how  it 
might  have  done  so.  When  did  you  post  the  letter  ?  " 
"  I  can't  give  you  the  date.  Say  ten  days  ago." 
"  And  there  would  be  no  hurry  for  a  reply,"  Bell  said, 
thoughtfully.  "  And  you  had  no  cause  for  worry  on 
that  head.  Nor  need  the  woman  who  found  it  have 
kept  the  envelope  beyond  the  delay  of  a  single  post, 
which  is  only  a  matter  of  an  hour  or  so  in  London. 
If  you  go  a  little  farther  we  find  that  money  is  no  object, 
hence  the  £i,ooo  offer  and  the  careful,  and  doubtless 
expensive,  inquiry  into  your  position.  Steel,  I  am  going 
to  enjoy  this  case." 

"  You're  welcome  to  all  the  fun  you  can  get  out  of 
it,"  David  said,  grimly.  "  So  far  as  I  am  concerned,  I 
fail  to  see  the  humour.  Isn't  this  the  ofiice  you  are 
after  ?  " 

Bell  nodded  and  disappeared,  presently  to  return  with 
two  exceedingly  rusty  keys  tied  together  with  a  drab 
piece  of  tape.  He  jingled  them  on  his  long,  slender 
forefinger  with  an  air  of  positive  enjoyment. 

"  Now  come  along,"  he  said.  "  I  feel  Like  a  boy  who 
has  marked  down  something  rare  in  the  way  of  a  bird's 
nest.  We  will  go  back  to  Brunswick  Square  exactly  the 
same  way  as  you  approached  it  on  the  night  of  the  great 
adventure." 


V 


CHAPTER   IX. 

THE    BROKEN     FIGURE. 

"  Any  particular  object  ia  that  course  ?  "  David  asked. 

"  There  ought  to  be  an  object  in  everything  that  even 
an  irrational  man  says  or  does,"  Bell  replied.  "  I  have 
achieved  some  marvellous  results  by  following  up  a  single 
sentence  uttered  by  a  patient.  Besides,  on  the  evening 
in  question  you  were  particularly  told  to  approach  the 
house  from  the  sea  front." 

"  Somebody  might  have  been  on  the  look-out  near 
the  Western  Road  entrance,"  Steel  suggested. 

"  Possibly.  I  have  another  theory.  .  .  .  Here  we 
are.  The  figures  over  the  fanlights  run  from  187  up- 
wards, gradually  getting  to  219  as  you  breast  the  slope. 
At  one  o'clock  in  the  morning  every  house  would  be  in 
darkness.     Did  you  find  that  to  be  so  }  " 

"  I  didn't  notice  a  light  anywhere  till  I  reached  219." 

"  Good  again.  And  you  could  only  find  219  by  the 
light  over  the  door.  Naturally  you  were  not  interested 
in  and  would  not  have  noticed  any  other  number. 
Well,  here  is  218,  where  I  propose  to  enter,  and  for 
which  purpose  I  have  the  keys.     Come  along." 

David  followed  wondoringly.  The  houses  in  Bruns- 
wick Square  are  somewhat  irregular  in  point  of  archi- 
tecture, and  Nos.  218  and  219  were  the  only  matched 
pair  thereabouts.  Signs  were  not  wanting,  as  Bell 
pointed  out,  that  at  one  time  the  houses  had  been 
occupied  as  one  residence.     The  two  entrance-halls  were 

62 


THE    BROKEN   FIGURE.  63 

back  to  back,  so  to  speak,  and  what  had  obviously  been 
a  doorway  leading  from  one  to  the  other  had  been 
plastered  up  within    comparatively  recent  memory. 

The  grim  and  dusty  desolation  of  an  empty  house 
seemed  l<  be  supplemented  here  by  a  deeper  desolation, 
Kot  that  there  was  any  dust  on  the  ground  floor,  which 
seemed  a  singular  thing  seeing  that  elsewhere  the  boards 
were  powdered  witli  it,  and  festoons  of  brown  cobwebs 
hung  everywhere.  Bell  smiled  approvingly  as  David 
Steel  pomted  the  fact  out  to  him. 

"  Do  you  note  another  singular  point  ?  "  the  former 
asked. 

"  No,"  David  said,  thoughtfully  ;  "  I — stop  i  The 
two  side-shutters  in  the  bay-windows  are  closed,  and 
there  is  the  same  vivid  crimson  bhnd  in  the  centre 
window.  And  the  self  colour  of  the  walls  is  exactly 
the  same.  The  faint  discoloration  by  the  fireplace  is 
a  perfect  facsimile." 

In  fact,  this  is  the  room  you  were  in  the  other  night," 
Bell  said,  quietly. 

•*  Impossible  !  "  Steel  cried.  "  The  blind  may  be  an 
accident,  so  might  the  fading  of  the  distemper.  But 
the  furniture,  the  engravings,  the  fittings  generally " 

"  Are  aU  capable  of  \^n  explanation,  which  we  shall 
arrive  at  with  patience." 

"  Can  we  arrive  at  the  number  over  the  door  with 
patience  ?  " 

"  Exactly  what  I  was  coming  to.  I  noticed  an 
old  pair  of  steps  in  the  back  sitting-room.  Would 
you  mind  placing  them  against  the  fanlight  for 
me  ?  " 

David  com[)lied  readily  enough.  He  was  growing 
credulous  and  interested  in  spite  of  himself.  At  Bell's 
instigation  he  placed  the  stops  before  the  fanlight  and 
mounted  them.  Over  his  head  were  the  figures  218  in 
elongated  shape  and  formed  in  white  porcelain. 

"  Now  then,'  Bell  said,  slowly.  "  Take  this  pocket- 
knife,  apply  the  blade  to  the  righl-hand  lower  half  of 
the  bottom  of  the  8 — to  half  the  small  o,  in  fact — and 
I  shall  be  extremely  surprised  if  the  quarter  section 
doesn't  come  away  from  the  gl.iss  of  the  fanlight,  leaving 


64  THE  CRIMSON  BLIND. 

the  rest  of  the  figure  intact.  Very  gently,  please.  I 
want  you  to  convince  yourself  that  the  piece  comes  away 
because  it  is  broken,  and  not  becaus«  the  pressure  has 
cracked  it.     Now  then." 

The  point  of  the  knife  was  hardly  under  the  edge  of 
the  porcelain  before  the  segment  of  the  lower  circle 
dropped  into  Steel's  hand.  He  could  feel  the  edges  of 
the  cement  sticking  to  his  fingers.  As  yet  the  full  force 
of  the  discovery  was  not  apparent  to  him. 

"  Go  out  into  the  road  and  look  at  the  fanlight,"  Bell 
directed. 

David  complied  eagerly.  A  sharp  cry  of  surprise 
escaped  him  as  he  looked  up.  The  change  was  apparent. 
Instead  of  the  figures  218  he  could  read  now  the  change 
to  219 — a  fairly  indifferent  9,  but  one  that  would  have 
passed  muster  without  criticism  by  ninety-nine  people 
out  of  a  hundred.  With  a  strong  light  behind  the  figures 
the  clumsy  9  would  never  have  been  noticed  at  all. 
The  very  simplicity  and  ingeniousness  of  the  scheme  was 
its  safeguard. 

"  I  should  like  to  have  the  address  of  the  man  who 
thought  that  out,"  David  said,  drily. 

"  Yes,  I  fancy  that  you  are  dealing  with  quite  clever 
people,"  Bell  replied.  "  And  now  I  have  shown  you 
now  utterly  you  have  been  deceived  over  the  number 
we  will  go  a  little  farther.  For  the  present,  the  way  in 
which  the  furniture  trick  was  worked  must  remain  a 
mystery.  But  there  has  been  furniture  here,  or  this 
room  and  the  hall  would  not  have  been  so  carefully 
swept  and  garnished  whilst  the  rest  of  the  house  remains 
in  so  dirty  a  condition.  If  my  eyes  don't  deceive  me 
I  can  see  two  fresh  nails  driven  into  the  archway  leading 
to  the  back  hall.  On  those  nails  hung  the  curtain  that 
prevented  you  seeing  more  than  was  necessary.  Are  you 
still  incredulous  as  to  the  house  where  you  had  your 
remarkable  adventure  ?  " 

"  I  confess  that  my  faith  has  been  seriously  shaken," 
David  admitted.  "  But  about  the  furniture  ?  And 
about  my  telephone  call  from  Mr.  Gates's  town  house  ? 
And  about  my  adventure  taking  place  in  the  very  next 
house  to  the  one  taken  by  him  at  Brighton  ?     And  about 


THE  BROKEN   FIGURE.  65 

Miss  Gates's  agitation  when  she  learnt  my  identity  ?  Do 
you  call  them  coincidences  ?  " 

"  No,  I  don't,"  Bell  said,  promptly.  "  They  are 
merely  evidences  of  clever  folks  taking  advantage  of 
an  excellent  strategic  position.  I  said  just  now  that  it 
was  an  important  point  that  Mr.  Gates  had  merely  taken 
the  next  door  furnished.  But  we  shall  come  to  that  side 
of  the  theory  in  due  course.  Have  you  any  other 
objection  to  urge  ?  " 

"  One  more,  and  I  have  finished  for  the  present. 
When  I  came  here  the  other  night — provided  of  course 
that  I  did  come  here — immediately  upon  my  entering 
the  dining-room  the  place  was  brilliantly  illuminated. 
Now,  directly  the  place  was  void  the  supply  of  electric 
current  would  be  cut  off  at  the  meter.  So  far  as  I  can 
judge,  some  two  or  three  units  must  have  been  con- 
sumed during  my  visit.  There  could  not  be  many  less 
than  ten  lights  burning  for  an  hour.  Now,  those  units 
must  show  on  the  meter.  Can  you  read  an  electric 
meter  ?  " 

"  My  dear  fellow,  there  is  nothing  easier." 

"  Then  let  us  go  down  into  the  basement  and  settle 
the  matter.  There  is  pretty  sure  to  be  a  card  on  the 
meter  made  up  to  the  day  when  the  last  tenant  went 
out.     See,  the  supply  is  cut  off  now," 

As  Steel  spoke  he  snapped  down  the  hall  switch  and 
no  result  came.  Down  in  the  basement  by  the  area 
door  stood  the  meter.  Both  switches  were  turned  off, 
but  on  Bell  pressing  them  down  Steel  was  enabled  to 
light  the  passage. 

"  There's  the  card,"  Bell  exclaimed.  "  Made  up  to 
25th  June,  1895,  since  when  the  house  has  been  void. 
Just  a  minute  whilst  I  read  the  meter.  Yes,  that's 
right.  According  to  this  the  card  in  your  hand,  pro- 
vided that  the  light  has  not  been  used  since  the  index 
was  taken,  should  read  at  1521.  What  do  you  make 
of  the  card  ?  " 

"  1532,"  David  cried.  "  Which  means  eleven  units 
since  the  meter  was  last  taken.  Or,  if  you  like  to  put 
it  from  your  point  of  view,  eleven  units  used  the  night 
that    I   came   here.     You   are  quite  right,   Bell.     You 

L 


66  THE  CRIMSON   BLIND. 

have  practically  convinced  me  that  I  have  been  inside 
the  real  219  for  the  first  time  to-day.  And  yet  the  more 
one  probes  the  mystery  the  more  astounding  does  it 
become.  .  .  .     What  do  you  propose  to  do  next  ?  " 

"  Find  out  the  name  of  the  last  tenant  or  owner," 
Bell  suggested.  "  Discover  what  the  two  houses  were 
used  for  when  they  were  occupied  by  one  person.  Also 
ascertain  why  on  earth  the  owners  are  williug  to  let  a 
house  this  size  and  in  this  situation  for  a  sum  like  jf8o 
per  annum.  Let  us  go  and  take  the  keys  back  to  the 
agents," 

Steel  was  nothing  loth  to  find  himself  in  the  fresh 
air  again.  Some  progress  had  been  made  like  the 
opening  of  a  chess-match  between  masters,  and  yet  the 
more  Steel  thought  of  it  the  more  muddled  and  bewildered 
did  he  become.  No  complicated  tangle  in  the  way  of  a 
plot  had  ever  been  anything  like  the  skein  this  was. 

"  I'm  hke  a  child  in  your  hands,"  he  said.  "  I'm 
a  bhnd  man  on  the  end  of  a  string ;  a  man  dazed 
with  wine  in  a  labyrinth.  And  if  ever  I  help  a  woman 
again " 

He  paused  as  he  caught  sight  of  Ruth  Gates's  lovely 
face  through  the  window  of  No.  219.  Her  features  were 
tinged  with  melancholy  ;  there  was  a  look  of  deepest 
sympathy  and  feeling  and  compassion  in  her  glonous 
eyes.  She  slipped  back  as  Steel  bowed,  and  the  rest 
of  his  speech  was  lost  in  a  sigh. 


CHAPTER    X 

THB  HOUSB  OF  THE   SILENT  SORROW, 

A  BELL  tolled  mournfully  with  a  slow,  swinging  cadence 
like  a  passing  beU.  On  winter  nights  folks,  passing 
the  House  of  the  Silent  Sorrow,  compared  the  doleful 
clanging  to  the  boom  that  carries  the  criminal  from  the 
cell  to  the  scaffold.  Every  night  all  the  year  round  the 
little  valley  of  Longdean  echoed  to  that  mournful  clang. 
Perhaps  it  was  for  this  reason  that  a  wandering  poet 
christened  the  place  as  the  House  of  the  Silent  Sorrow. 

For  seven  years  this  had  been  going  on  now,  until 
nobody  but  strangers  noticed  it.  From  hadf-past  seven 
till  eight  o'clock  that  hideous  bell  rang  its  swinging, 
melancholy  note.  Why  it  was  nobody  could  possibly 
tell.  Nobody  in  the  village  had  ever  been  beyond  the 
great  rusty  gates  leading  to  a  dark  drive  of  Scotch  firs, 
though  one  small  boy  bolder  than  the  rest  had  once 
climbed  the  hchen-strewn  stone  wall  and  penetrated 
the  thick  undergrowth  beyond.  Hence  he  had  returned, 
with  white  face  and  staring  eyes,  with  the  information 
that  great  wild  dogs  dwelt  in  the  thickets.  Subsequently 
the  village  poacher  confirmed  this  information.  He  was 
not  exactly  loquacious  on  the  subject,  but  merely  hinted 
that  the  grounds  of  Longdean  Grange  were  not  salu- 
brious for  naturalists  with  a  predatory  disposition. 

Indeed,  on  moonlight  nights  those  apocr>'f)lial  hounds 
were  heard  to  bay  and  whimper.  A  shepherd  up  late 
one  spring  night  averred  that  he  had  seen  two  of  them 

•7 


68  THE  CRIMSON   BLIND. 

fighting.  But  nobody  could  say  anything  about  them 
for  certain  ;  also  it  was  equally  certain  that  nobody 
knew  anything  about  the  people  at  Longdean  Grange. 
The  place  had  been  shut  up  for  thirty  years,  being 
understood  to  be  in  Chancery,  when  the  announcement 
went  forth  that  a  distant  relative  of  the  family  had 
arranged  to  live  there  in  future. 

What  the  lady  of  the  Grange  was  like  nobody  could 
say.  She  had  arrived  late  one  night  accompanied  by  a 
niece,  and  from  that  moment  she  had  never  been  beyond 
the  house.  None  of  the  large  staff  of  servants  ever  left 
the  grounds  unless  it  was  to  quit  altogether,  and  then 
they  were  understood  to  leave  at  night  with  a  large 
bonus  in  money  as  a  recompense  for  their  promise  to 
evacuate  Sussex  without  delay.  Everything  was  ordered 
by  telephone  from  Brighton,  and  left  at  the  porter's 
lodge.  The  porter  was  a  stranger,  also  he  was  deaf  and 
exceedingly  ill-tempered,  so  that  long  since  the  village 
had  abandoned  the  hope  of  getting  anytliing  out  of  him. 
One  rational  human  being  they  saw  from  the  Grange 
occasionally,  a  big  man  with  an  exceedingly  benevolent 
face  and  mild,  large,  blue  eyes — a  man  full  of  Christian 
kindness  and  given  to  largesse  to  tlie  village  boys.  The 
big  gentleman  w^ent  by  the  name  of  "  Mr.  Charles,"  and 
was  understood  to  have  a  lot  of  pigeons  of  which  he 
was  exceedingly  fond.  But  who  "  Mr.  Charles  "  was,  or 
how  he  got  that  name,  it  would  have  puzzled  the  wisest 
head  of  the  village  to  tell. 

And  yet,  but  for  the  mighty  clamour  of  that  hideous 
bell  and  that  belt  of  wildness  that  surrounded  it, 
Longdean  Grange  was  a  cheerful-looking  house  enough. 
Any  visitor  emerging  from  the  drive  would  have  been 
delighted  with  it.  For  the  lawns  were  trim  and  truly 
kept,  the  beds  were  blazing  masses  of  flowers,  the 
creepers  over  the  Grange  were  not  allowed  to  riot 
too  extravagantly.  And  yet  the  strange  haunting  sense 
of  fear  was  there.  Now  and  again  a  huge  black  head 
would  uplift  from  the  coppice  growth,  and  a  long, 
rumbling  growl  come  from  between  a  double  row  of 
white  teeth.  For  the  dogs  were  no  fiction,  they  lived 
and  bred  in  the  fifteen  or  twenty  acres  of  coppice  round 


THE  HOUSE  OF  THE  SH.ENT  SORROW.    69 

the  house,  where  they  were  fed  regularly  and  regularly 
tiirashed  without  mercy  if  they  showed  in  the  garden. 
Perhaps  they  looked  more  fierce  and  truculent  than  they 
really  were,  being  Cuban  bloodhounds,  but  they  gave  a 
weird  colour  to  the  place  and  lent  it  new  terror  to  the 
simple  folk  around. 

The  bell  was  swinging  dolefully  over  the  stable-turret ; 
it  rang  out  its  passing  note  till  the  clock  struck  eight 
and  then  mercifully  ceased.  At  the  same  moment 
precisely  as  she  had  done  any  time  the  last  seven  years 
the  lady  of  the  house  descended  the  broad,  black  oak 
staircase  to  the  hall.  A  butler  of  the  old-fashioned  type 
bowed  to  her  and  announced  that  dinner  was  ready. 
He  might  have  been  the  butler  of  an  archbishop  from 
his  mien  and  deportment,  yet  his  evening  dress  was 
seedy  and  shiny  to  the  last  degree,  his  patent  leather 
boots  had  long  lost  their  lustre,  his  linen  was  terribly 
frayed  and  yellow.  Two  footmen  in  livery  stood  in  the 
hall.  They  might  have  been  supers  playing  on  the 
boards  of  a  travelling  theatre,  their  once  smartly  cut 
and  trimmed  coats  hung  raggedly  upon  them. 

As  to  the  lady,  who  was  tall  and  handsome,  with  dark 
eyes  and  features  contrasting  strangely  with  hair  as 
white  as  the  frost  on  a  winter's  landscape,  there  was  a 
far-away,  strained  look  in  the  dark  eyes,  as  if  they  were 
ever  night  and  day  looking  for  something,  something 
that  would  never  be  found.  In  herself  the  lady  was 
clean  and  wholesome  enough,  but  her  evening  dress  of 
black  silk  and  lace  was  dropping  into  fragments,  the 
lace  was  in  rags  upon  her  bosom,  though  there  were 
diamonds  of  great  value  in  her  white  hair. 

And  here,  strangely  allied,  were  wealth  and  direst 
poverty ;  the  whole  place  was  filled  with  rare  and 
costly  things,  pictures,  statuary,  china  ;  the  floors  were 
covered  with  thick  carpets,  and  yet  everything  was 
absolutely  smothered  in  dust.  A  thick,  white,  blankety 
cloud  of  it  lay  everywhere.  It  obscured  the  china,  it 
dimmed  the  glasses  of  the  pictures,  it  piled  in  little 
drifts  on  the  hcruls  and  arms  of  the  dingy  statues  there. 
Many  years  must  have  passed  since  a  housemaid's  brush 
or  duster  had  touched  anything  in  Longdean  Grange, 


70  THE  CRIMSON   BLIND. 

It  was  like  a  palace  of  the  Sleeping  Beauty,  wherein 
people  walked  as  in  a  waking  dream. 

The  lady  of  the  house  made  her  way  slowly  to  the 
dininc:-room.  Here  dinner  was  laid  out  daintily  and 
artistically  enough — a  gourmet  would  have  drawn  up  to 
the  table  with  a  feeling  of  satisfaction.  Flowers  were 
there,  and  silver  and  cut-glass,  china  with  a  history  of 
its  own,  and  the  whole  set  out  on  a  tablecloth  that  was 
literally  dropping  to  pieces. 

It  was  a  beautiful  room  in  itself,  lofty,  oak  panelled 
from  floor  to  roof,  with  a  few  pictures  of  price  on  the 
walls.  There  was  plenty  of  gleaming  silver  glowing  like 
an  argent  moon  against  a  purple  sky,  and  yet  the  same 
sense  of  dust  and  desolation  was  everywhere.  Only  the 
dinner  looked  bright  and  modern. 

There  were  two  other  people  standing  by  the  table, 
one  a  girl  with  a  handsome,  intellectual  face  full  of 
passion  but  ill  repressed ;  the  other  the  big  fair  man 
known  to  the  village  as  "  Mr.  Charles."  As  a  matter 
of  fact,  his  name  was  Reginald  Henson,  and  he  was 
distantly  related  to  Mrs.  Henson,  the  strange  chatelaine 
of  the  House  of  the  Silent  Sorrow.  He  was  smiling 
blandly  now  at  Enid  Henson,  the  wonderfully  beautiful 
girl  with  the  defiant,  shining  eyes. 

"  We  may  be  seated  now  that  madai*  is  arrived," 
Henson  said,  gravely. 

He  spoke  with  a  certain  mocking  humility  and  a 
queer  wry  smile  on  his  broad,  loose  mouth  that  filled 
Enid  with  a  speechless  fury.  The  girl  was  hot-blooded 
— a  good  hater  and  a  good  friend.  And  the  master 
passion  of  her  life  was  hatred  of  Reginald  Henson. 

"  Madam  has  had  a  refreshing  rest  ? "  Henson  sug- 
gested.    "  Pardon  our  anxious  curiosity." 

Again  Enid  raged,  but  Margaret  Henson  might  have 
been  of  stone  for  all  the  notice  she  took.  The  far-away 
look  was  still  in  her  eyes  as  she  felt  her  way  to  the  table 
like  one  in  a  dream.  Then  she  drop{M?d  suddenly  into 
a  chair  and  began  grace  in  a  high,  clear  voice. 

"  .  .  .  .  And  the  Lord  make  us  truly  thankful. 
And  may  He,  v/hui  it  S'?emeth  good  to  Him,  remove 
the  curse  from  this  house  and  in  due  season  free  the 


THE  HOUSE  OF  THE  SILENT  SORROW.    71 

innocent  and  punish  the  guilty.  For  the  burden  is  sore 
upon  us,  and  there  are  times  when  it  seems  hard  to 
bear." 

The  big  man  played  with  his  knife  and  fork,  smilingly. 
An  acute  observer  might  have  imagined  that  the  pas- 
sionate plaint  was  directed  at  him.  If  so  it  passed 
harmlessly  over  his  broad  shoulders.  In  his  immaculate 
evening  dress  he  looked  strangely  out  of  place  there. 
Enid  had  escaped  the  prevailing  dilapidation,  but  her 
gown  of  grey  homespun  was  severe  as  the  garb  of  a 
charity  girl. 

"  Madam  is  so  poetical,"  Henson  murmured.  "  And 
charmingly  sanguine." 

"  Williams,"  Mrs.  Henson  said,  quite  stoically,  "  my 
visitor  will  have  some  champagne." 

She  seemed  to  have  dropped  once  again  into  the 
commonplace,  painfully  exact  as  a  hostess  of  breeding 
must  be  to  an  unwelcome  guest.  And  yet  she  never 
seemed  to  see  him  ;  those  dark  eyes  were  looking,  ever 
looking,  into  the  dark  future.  The  meal  proceeded  in 
silence  save  for  an  oily  sarcasm  from  Henson.  In  the 
dense  stillness  the  occasional  howl  of  a  dog  could  be 
heard.  A  slight  flush  of  annoyance  crossed  Henson's 
broad  face. 

"  Some  day  I  shall  poison  all  those  hounds,"  he  said. 

Enid  looked  up  at  him  swiftly. 

"  If  all  the  hounds  round  Longdean  were  poisoned  or 
shot  it  would  be  a  good  place  to  hve  in,"  she  said. 

Henson  smiled  caressingly,  like  Petrucliio  might  have 
done  in  his  milder  moments. 

"  My  dear  Enid,  you  misjudge  me,"  he  said.  "  But 
1  shall  get  justice  some  day." 

Enid  replied  that  she  fervently  hoped  so,  and  thus 
the  strange  meal  proceeded  with  smiles  and  gentle  words 
from  Henson,  and  a  wild  outburst  of  bitterness  from 
the  girl.  So  far  as  she  was  concerned  the  servants 
might  have  been  mere  automatons.  The  dust  rose  in 
clouds  as  the  latter  moved  silently.  It  was  hot  in 
there,  and  gradually  the  brown  jjowder  grimed  like  a 
film  over  Henson's  oily  skin.  At  the  head  of  the  table 
Margaret  Henson  sat  like  a  woman  in  a  dream.     Ever, 


73  THE  CRIMSON   BLIND. 

ever  her  dark  eyes  seemed  to  be  looking  eagerly  around 
Thirsty  men  seeking  precious  water  in  a  desert  might 
have  looked  hke  her.  Ever  and  anon  her  Hps  moved, 
but  no  sijund  came  from  them.  Occasionally  she  spoke 
to  one  or  the  other  of  her  guests,  but  she  never  followed 
her  words  with  her  eyes.  Such  a  sad,  pathetic,  pitiable 
figure,  such  a  grey  sorrow  in  her  rags  and  snowy  hair. 

The  meal  came  to  an  end  at  length,  and  Mrs.  Henson 
rose  suddenly.  There  was  a  grotesque  suggestion  of  the 
marionette  in  the  movement.  She  bowed  as  if  to  some 
imaginary  personage  and  moved  with  dignity  towards 
the  door.  Reginald  Henson  stood  aside  and  opened  it 
for  her.  She  passed  into  the  dim  hall  as  if  absolutely 
unconscious  of  his  presence.  Enid  flashed  a  look  of 
defiance  at  him  as  she  disappeared  into  the  gloom  and 
floating  dust. 

Henson's  face  changed  instantly,  as  if  a  mask  had 
fallen  from  his  smug  features.  He  became  alert  and 
vigorous.  He  was  no  longer  patron  of  the  arts,  a  wide- 
minded  philanthropist,  the  man  who  devotes  himself  to 
the  good  of  humanity.  The  blue  eyes  were  cold  and 
cruel,  there  was  a  hungry  look  about  the  loose  mouth. 

"  Take  a  bottle  of  claret  and  the  cigars  into  the  small 
library,  Williams,"  he  said.  "  And  open  the  window, 
the  dust  stifles  me." 

The  dignified  butler  bowed  respectfully.  He  resembled 
the  typical  bad  butler  of  fiction  in  no  respect,  but  his 
thoughts  wove  by  no  means  pleasant  as  he  hastened  to 
obey.  Enid  was  loitering  in  the  hall  as  Williams  passed 
with  the  tray. 

"  Small  study  and  the  window  open,  miss,"  he  whis- 
pered. "  There's  some  game  on — oh,  yes,  there  is  some 
blessed  game  on  again  to-night.  And  him  so  anxious 
to  know  how  Miss  Christiana  is.  Says  she  ought  to  call 
him  in  professionally.  Personally  I'd  rather  call  in  an 
undertaker  who  was  desperately  hard  up  for  a  job." 

"  All  right,  Williams,"  Enid  replied.  "  My  sister  is 
worse  to-night.  And  unless  she  gets  better  I  shall 
insist  upon  her  seeing  a  doctor.  And  I  am  obliged  for 
the  hint  about  Mr.  Henson.  The  little  study  commands 
the  staircase  leading  to  my  sister's  bedroom." 


THE  HOUSE  OF  THE  SILENT  SORROW.     73 

"  Arxd  the  open  window  commaxids  the  garden," 
Williams  said,  drily. 

"  Yes,  yes.  Now  go.  You  are  a  real  friend,  Williams, 
and  I  will  never  forget  your  goodness.  Run  along — I 
can  actually  feel  that  man  coming." 

As  a  matter  of  fact,  Henson  was  approaching  nois©* 
lessly.  Despite  his  great  bulk  he  had  the  clean,  dainty 
step  of  a  cat ;  his  big,  rolling  ears  were  those  of  a  hare. 
Henson  was  alwa5's  listening.  He  would  have  listened 
behind  a  kitchen  door  to  a  pair  of  chattering  scullery- 
maids.  He  liked  to  find  other  people  out,  though  as 
yet  he  had  not  been  found  out  himself.  He  stood  before 
the  world  as  a  social  missioner  ;  he  made  speeches  at 
religious  gatherings  and  affected  the  women  to  tears. 
He  was  known  to  devote  a  considerable  fortune  to  doing 
good ;  he  had  been  asked  to  stand  for  Parhament, 
where  liis  real  ambition  lay.  Gilead  Gates  had  alluded 
to  Reginald  Henson  as  his  right-hand  man. 

He  crept  along  to  the  study,  where  the  lamps  were 
lighted  and  the  silver  claret-jug  set  out.  He  carefully 
dusted  a  big  arm-chair  and  began  to  smoke,  having  first 
carefully  extinguished  the  lamps  and  seen  that  the 
window  leading  to  the  garden  was  wide  open.  Henson 
was  watching  for  somctliing.  In  his  feline  nature  he 
had  the  full  gift  of  feline  patience.  To  serve  his  own 
ends  he  would  have  sat  there  watching  all  night  if 
necessary.  He  heard  an  occasional  whimper,  a  howl 
from  one  of  the  dogs  ;  he  hoard  Enid's  voice  singing  in 
the  drawing-room.  The  rest  of  the  house  was  quite 
funereal  enouL,'l\  for  him. 

In  the  midst  of  the  drawing-room  Margaret  Henson 
sat  still  as  a  statue.  The  distant,  weary  expression 
never  left  her  eyes  for  a  moment.  As  the  stable  clock, 
the  only  one  going  on  the  premises,  struck  ten,  Enid 
crossed  over  from  the  piano  to  her  aunt's  side.  There 
was  an  eager  look  on  her  face,  her  eyes  were  gleaming 
like  frosty  stars. 

"  Aunt,"  she  whispered ;  "  dear,  I  have  had  a  mes- 
sage !  " 

"  Message  of  woe  and  desolation,"  Margaret  Henson 
cried.     "  Tribulation  and  sorrow  on  this  wretched  hous.i. 


74  THE  CRIMSON  BLIND. 

For  seven  long  years  the  hand  of  the  Lord  has  U!a 

heavily  upon  us." 

She  spoke  Hke  one  who  was  far  away  from  her  sur- 
roundings. And  yet  no  one  could  look  in  her  eyes  and 
say  that  she  was  mad.  It  was  a  proud,  passionate 
SjMrit,  cnished  down  by  some  bitter  humihation.  £mci*a 
eyes  flashed. 

"  That  scoundrel  has  been  robbing  you  again,"  she 
said. 

"  Two  thousand  pounds,"  came  the  mechanical  reply, 
"  to  endow  a  bed  in  some  hospital.  And  there  is  no 
escape,  no  hope  unless  we  drag  the  shameful  secret 
from  him.  Bit  by  bit  and  drop  by  drop,  and  then  I 
shall  die  and  you  and  Christiana  will  be  penniless." 

"  I  daresay  Chris  and  myself  will  sur\'ive  that,"  Enid 
said,  cheerfully.  "  But  we  have  a  })lan,  dear  aunt ; 
we  have  thought  it  out  carefully.  Reginald  Henson 
has  hidden  the  secret  somewhere  and  we  are  going  to 
find  it.  The  secret  is  hidden  not  far  off,  because  our 
cousin  has  occasion  to  require  it  frequently.  It  is  like 
the  purloined  letter  in  Edgar  Poc's  wondeiiul  story." 

Margaret  Henson  nodded  and  mumbled.  It  seemed 
almost  impossible  to  make  her  understand.  She  babbled 
of  strange  things,  with  her  dark  eyes  ever  fixed  on  the 
future.  Enid  turned  away  almost  despairingly.  At 
the  same  time  the  stable  clock  struck  the  half-hour  after 
ten.  Williams  slipped  in  with  a  tray  of  glasses,  noise- 
lessly. On  the  tray  lay  a  small  pile  of  tradesmen's  books. 
The  top  one  was  of  dull  red  with  no  lettering  upon  it  at 
aU. 

"  The  housekeeper's  respectful  compliments,  miss,  and 
would  you  go  through  them  to-morrow  ?  "  Williams  said. 
He  tapped  the  top  book  significantly.  "  To-morrow  la 
the  last  day  of  the  month." 

Enid  picked  up  the  top  book  with  strange  eagerness. 
There  were  pages  of  figures  and  cabalistic  entries  tliat 
no  ordinary  person  could  make  anything  of.  Pages 
here  and  there  were  signed  and  decorated  with  pink 
receipt  stamps.  Enid  glanced  down  the  last  column, 
and  her  face  grew  a  little  paler. 

"  Aunt,"   she  whispered,   "  I've  got  to  go  out.      At 


r     THE  HOUSE  OF  THE  SILENT  SORROW.    75 

once  ;  do  you  understand  ?  There  is  a  message  here  ; 
and  I  am  afraid  that  something  dreadful  has  happened. 
Can  you  sing  ?  " 

"  Ah,  yes  ;  a  song  of  lamentation — a  dirge  for  the 
dead." 

"  No,  no  ;  seven  years  ago  you  had  a  lovely  voice. 
I  recollect  what  a  pleasure  it  was  to  me  as  a  child  ; 
and  they  used  to  say  that  my  voice  was  very  hke  yours, 
only  not  so  sweet  or  so  powerful.  Aunt,  I  must  go  out  ; 
and  that  man  must  know  nothing  about  it.  He  is  by 
the  window  in  the  small  library  now,  watching — watch- 
ing.    Help  me,  for  the  love  of  Heaven,  help  me." 

The  girl  spoke  with  a  fervency  and  passion  that 
seemed  ■  to  waken  a  responsive  chord  in  Margaret 
Henson's  breast.  A  brighter  gleam  crept  into  her 
eyes. 

"  You  are  a  dear  girl/'  she  said,  dreamily ;  "  yes,  a 
dear  girl.  And  I  loved  singing  ;  it  was  a  great  grief 
to  me  that  they  would  not  let  me  go  upon  the  stage. 
But  I  haven't  sung  since — since  that " 

She  pointed  to  the  huddled  heap  of  china  and  glass 
and  dried,  dusty  flowers  in  one  corner.  Ethel  shuddered 
slightly  as  she  followed  the  direction  of  the  extended 
forefinger. 

"  But  you  must  try,"  she  whispered.  "  It  is  for  the 
good  of  the  family,  for  the  recovery  of  the  secret. 
Reginald  Henson  is  sly  and  cruel  and  clever.  But  we 
have  one  on  our  side  now  who  is  far  more  clever.  And, 
unless  I  can  get  away  to-night  without  that  man  know- 
ing, the  chance  may  be  lost  for  ever.     Come  !  " 

Margaret  commenced  to  sing  in  a  soft  minor.  At 
first  the  chords  were  thin  and  dry,  but  gradually  they 
increased  in  sweetness  and  power.  The  hopeless,  distant 
look  died  from  the  singer's  eyes  ;  there  was  a  flush  on 
her  cheeks  that  rendered  her  years  younger. 

"  Another  one,"  she  said,  when  the  song  was  finished, 
**  and  yet  another.  How  wicked  I  have  been  to  neglect 
this  balm  that  God  sent  me  all  these  years.  H  you  only 
knew  what  the  sound  of  my  own  voice  means  to  me  I 
Another  one,  Enid." 

"  Yes,  yes,"  Enid  whispered.     "  You  are  to  sing  till 


76  THE  CRIMSON   BLIND. 

I  return.  You  are  to  leave  Henson  to  imafrine  that  I 
am  sin^ng.     He  will  never  guess.     Now  then." 

Enid  crept  away  into  the  hall,  closing  the  door  softly 
behind  her.  She  made  her  way  noiselessly  from  the 
house  and  acrose  the  lawn.  As  Henson  slipped  through 
the  open  window  into  the  garden  Enid  d;irtcd  behind 
a  bush.  Evidently  Henson  suspected  notliing  so  far  as 
she  was  concerned,  for  she  could  see  the  red  glow  of 
the  cigar  between  his  lips.  The  faint  sweetness  of 
distant  music  filled  the  air.  So  long  as  the  song  con- 
tinued Henson  would  relax  his  vigilance. 

He  was  pacing  down  the  garden  in  the  direction  of 
the  drive.  Did  the  man  know  anything  ?  Enid  won- 
dered. He  had  so  diabolically  cunning  a  brain.  He 
seemed  to  find  out  everything,  and  to  read  others  before 
they  had  made  up  their  minds  for  themselves. 

The  cigar  seemed  to  dance  like  a  mocking  sprite  into 
the  bushes.  Usually  the  man  avoided  those  bushes. 
If  Reginald  Henson  was  afraid  of  one  thing  it  was  of 
the  dogs.  And  in  return  they  hated  him  as  he  hated 
them. 

Enid's  mind  was  made  up.  If  the  sound  of  that 
distant  voice  should  only  cease  for  a  moment  she  was 
quite  sure  Henson  would  turn  back.  But  he  could  hear 
it,  and  she  knew  that  she  was  safe.  Enid  slipped  past 
him  into  the  bushes  and  gave  a  faint  click  of  her  lips. 
Something  moved  and  whined,  and  two  dark  objects 
bounded  towards  her.  She  caught  them  together  by 
their  collars  and  cuffed  them  soundly.  Then  she  led 
the  way  back  so  as  to  get  on  Henson's  tracks. 

He  was  walking  on  ahead  of  her  now,  beating  time 
softly  to  the  music  of  the  faintly  distant  song  with  his 
cigar.  Enid  could  distinctly  see  the  sweep  of  the  red 
circle. 

"  Hold  him,  Dan,"  she  whispered.  "  Watch,  Prance  ; 
watch,  boy." 

There  was  a  low  growl  as  the  hounds  found  the  scent 
and  dashed  forward.  Henson  came  up  all  standing  and 
sweating  in  every  pore.  It  was  not  the  first  time  he 
had  been  held  up  by  the  dogs,  and  he  knew  by  hard 
experience  what  to  expect  if  he  made  a  bolt  for  it. 


THE  HOUSE  OF  THE  SILENT  SORROW.     77 

Two  grim  muzzles  were  pressed  against  his  trembling 
knees ;  he  saw  four  rows  of  ivory  flashing  in  the  dim 
light.  Then  the  dogs  crouched  at  his  feet,  watching 
him  with  eyes  as  red  and  lurid  as  the  point  of  his 
own  cigar.  Had  he  attempted  to  move,  had  he  tried 
coercion,  they  would  have  fallen  upon  him  and  torn 
him  in  pieces. 

"  Confusion  to  the  creatures  !  "  he  cried,  passionately. 
"  I'll  get  a  revolver  ;  I'll  buy  some  prussic  acid  and 
poison  the  lot.  And  here  I'll  have  to  stay  till  WilHams 
locks  up  the  stables.  Wouldn't  that  little  Jezebel  laugh 
at  me  if  she  could  see  me  now  ?  She  would  enjoy  it 
better  than  singing  songs  in  the  drawing-room  to 
our  sainted  Margaret.  Steady,  you  brutes  !  I  didn't 
move." 

He  stood  there  rigidly,  almost  afraid  to  take  the  cigar 
from  his  lips,  whilst  Enid  sped  without  further  need 
for  caution  down  the  drive.  The  lodge-gates  were 
closed  and  the  deaf  porter's  house  in  darkness,  so  that 
Enid  could  unlock  the  wicket  without  fear  of  detection. 
She  rattled  the  key  on  the  bars  and  a  figure  slipped  out 
of  the  darkness. 

"  Good  heavens,  Ruth,  is  it  really  yon  ?  "  Enid  cried. 

"  Really  me,  Enid.  I  came  over  on  my  bicycle.  I 
am  supposed  to  be  round  at  some  friend's  house  in 
Brunswick  Square,  and  one  of  the  servants  is  sitting 
up  for  me.  Is  Reginald  safe  ?  He  hasn't  yet  dis- 
covered the  secret  of  the  tradesman's  book  ?  " 

"  That's  all  right,  dear.  But  why  are  you  here  ?  Has 
something  dreadful  happened  ?  " 

"  Well,  I  will  try  to  tell  you  so  in  as  few  words  as 
possible.  I  never  felt  so  ashamed  of  anything  in  my 
Lfe." 

"  Don't  tell  me  that  our  scheme  has  failed  !  " 
t  "  Perhaps  I  need  not  go  so  far  as  that.  The  first 
part  of  it  came  off  all  ripjit,  and  then  a  very  dreadful 
thing  happened.  We  have  got  Mr.  David  Steel  into 
frightful  trouble.  He  is  going  to  be  charged  with 
attempted  murder  and  robljcry." 

"  Ruth  !     But  tell  me.     I  am  quite  in  the  dark." 

**  It  was  the  night  when — well,  you  know  the  night. 


jS  THE  CRIMSON    BLIND. 

It  was  after  Mr.  Steel  returned  home  from  his  visit  to 


2IQ,  Bninswick  Square " 

^'  You  mean  218.  Ruth." 

"  It  doesn't  matter,  because  he  knows  pretty  weU  all 
about  it  by  this  time.  It  would  have  been  far  better 
for  us  if  we  hadn't  been  quite  so  clever.  It  would  have 
t>een  far  wiser  to  have  taken  Mr.  Steel  entirely  into  our 
confidence.  Oh,  oh,  Enid,  if  we  had  only  left  out  that 
little  sentiment  over  the  cigar-case  !  Then  we  should 
have  been  all  right." 

"  Dearest  girl,  my  time  is  limited.  I've  get  Reginald 
held  up  for  the  time,  but  at  any  moment  he  may  escape 
from  his  bondage.     What  about  the  cigir-case  ?  " 

"  Well,  Mr.  Steel  took  it  home  with  him.  And  when 
he  got  home  he  found  a  man  nearly  murdered  lying  in 
his  conservatory.  That  man  was  conveyed  to  the 
Sussex  County  Hospital,  where  he  still  lies  in  an  un- 
conscious state.  On  the  body  was  found  a  receipt  for 
a  gun-metal  cigar-case  set  with  diamonds." 

"  Good  gracious,  Ruth,  you  don't  mean  to  say ' 

"  Oh,  I  do.  I  can't  quite  make  out  how  it  happened, 
but  that  same  case  that  we — that  Mr.  Steel  has — has 
been  positively  identified  as  one  purchased  from  Walen 
by  the  injured  man.  There  is  no  question  about  it. 
And  they  have  found  out  about  Mr.  Steel  being  short 
of  money,  and  the  £1,000,  and  everything." 

"  But  we  know  that  that  cigar-case  from  Lockhart's 
in  North  Street  was  positively " 

"  Yes,  yes.  But  what  has  become  of  that  ?  And  in 
what  strange  way  was  the  change  made  ?  I  tell  you 
that  the  whole  thing  frightens  me.  We  thought  that 
we  had  hit  upon  a  scheme  to  solve  the  problem,  and 
keep  our  friends  out  of  danger.  There  was  the  American 
;it  Genoa  who  volunteered  to  assist  us.  A  week  later 
he  was  found  dead  in  his  bed.  Then  there  was  Chris- 
tiana's friend,  who  disappeared  entirely.  And  now  we 
try  further  assistance  in  the  case  of  Mr.  Steel,  and  ha 
stands  face  to  face  with  a  terrible  charge.  And  he  has 
found  us  out." 

"  He  has  found  us  out  ?    What  do  you  mean  ?  " 

*'  Well,  he  called  to  see  mc.     He  called  at  219,  of 


THE  HOUSE  OF  THE  SILENT  SORROW.     79 

course.  And  directly  I  heard  his  name  I  was  so  startled 
that  I  am  afraid  I  betrayed  myself.  Such  a  nice,  kind, 
handsome  man,  Enid  ;  so  manly  and  good  over  it  all. 
Of  course  he  declared  that  he  had  been  at  219  before, 
and  I  could  only  declare  that  he  had  done  nothing  of 
the  kind.  Never,  never  have  I  felt  so  ashamed  of  myself 
in  my  life  before." 

"  It  seems  a  pity,"  Enid  said,  thoughtfully.  "  You 
said  nothing  about  218  ?  " 

"  My  dear,  he  found  it  out.  At  least,  Hatherly  Bell 
did  for  him.  Hatherly  Bell  happened  to  be  staying 
down  with  us,  and  Hatherly  Bell,  who  knows  Mr.  Steel, 
promptly  solved,  or  half  solved,  that  side  of  the  problem. 
And  Hatherly  Bell  is  coming  here  to-night  to  see  Aunt 
Margaret.     He " 

"  Here  I  "  Enid  cried.  "  To  see  Aunt  Margaret  ? 
Then  he  found  out  about  you.  At  all  hazards  Mr. 
Bell  must  not  come  here — he  musl  not.  I  would  rather 
let  everything  go  than  that.  I  would  rather  see  auntie 
dead  and  Reginald  Henson  master  here.     You  must " 

In  the  distance  came  the  rattle  of  harness  bells  and 
the  trot  of  a  horse. 

"  I'm  afraid  it's  too  late,"  Ruth  Gates  said,  sadly. 
"  I  am  afraid  that  they  are  here  already.  Oh,  if  we 
had  only  left  out  that  wretched  cigar-case  I  " 


CHAPTER    XL 

AFTER    RE  Jf  BRANDT. 

"  Before  we  go  any  farther,"  Eell  said,  after  a  long 
pause,  "  I  should  like  to  search  the  house  from  top  to 
bottom.  I've  got  a  pretty  sound  theory  in  my  head, 
but  I  don't  like  to  leave  anything  to  chance.  We  shall 
be  pretty  certain  to  find  something." 

"  I  am  entirely  in  your  hands,"  David  said,  wearily. 
"  So  far  as  I  am  capable  of  thinking  out  anything,  it 
seems  to  me  that  we  have  to  find  the  woman." 

"  Clicrchez  la  fenime  is  a  fairly  sound  premise  in  a  case 
like  this,  but  when  we  have  found  the  woman  we  shall 
have  to  fmd  the  man  who  is  at  the  bottom  of  the  plot. 
I  mean  the  man  who  is  not  only  thwarting  the  woman, 
but  giving  you  a  pretty  severe  lesson  as  to  the 
advisability  of  minding  your  own  business  for  the 
future." 

"  Then  you  don't  think  I  am  being  made  the  victim 
of  a  vile  conspiracy  ?  " 

"  Not  by  the  woman,  certainly.  You  are  the  victim 
of  some  fiendish  counterplot  by  the  man,  who  has  not 
quite  mastered  what  the  woman  is  driving  at.  By 
placing  you  in  dire  peril  he  compels  the  woman  to  speak 
to  save  you,  and  thus  to  expose  her  hand." 

"  Then  in  that  case  I  propose  to  sit  tight,"  David 
said,  grimly.  "  I  am  botmd  to  be  prosecuted  for  robbery 
and  attempted  murder  in  due  course.  If  my  man  dies 
I  am  in  a  tight  place." 

lo 


AFTER   REMBRANDT.  81 

*•  And  if  he  recovers  your  antagonist  may  be  in  a 
tighter,"  Bell  chuckled.  "  And  if  the  man  gets  well  and 
that  brain  injury  proves  permanent — I  mean  if  the  man  is 
rendered  imbecile — why,  we  are  only  at  the  very  thres- 
hold of  the  mystery.  It  seems  a  callous  thing  to  say, 
but  this  is  the  prettiest  problem  I  have  had  under  my 
hands." 

"  Make  the  most  of  it,"  David  said,  sardonically.  "  I 
daresay  I  should  see  the  matter  in  a  more  rational  light 
if  I  were  not  so  directly  concerned.  But,  if  we  are  going 
to  make  a  search  of  the  premises,  the  sooner  we  start  the 
better." 

Upstairs  there  was  nothing  beyond  certain  lumber. 
Tliere  were  dust  and  dirt  everywhere,  save  in  the  hall 
and  front  dining-room,  which,  as  Bell  sapiently  pointed 
out,  had  obviously  been  cleared  to  make  ready  for 
Steel's  strange  reception.  Down  in  the  housekeeper's 
room  was  a  large  collection  of  dusty  furniture,  and  a 
number  of  pictures  and  engravings  piled  with  their 
faces  to  the  waU.  Bell  began  idly  to  turn  the  latter 
over. 

"  I  am  a  maniac  on  the  subject  of  old  prints,"  he  ex- 
plained. "  I  never  see  a  pile  without  a  wild  longing  to 
examine  them.  And,  by  Jove,  there  are  some  pood 
things  here.  Unless  I  am  gieatly  mistaken — here,  Steel, 
pull  up  the  blinds  !     Good  heavens,  is  it  possible  ?  " 

"  Found  a  Sistine  Madonna  or  a  stray  Angelo  ?  "  David 
asked.  "Or  a  ghost  ?  What  is  the  matter  ?  Is  it 
another  phase  of  the  mystery  ?  " 

"  The  Rembrandt,"  Bell  gasped-  "  Look  at  it, 
man  !  " 

Steel  bent  eagerly  over  the  engraving.     An  old  print 
an  old  piece  of  china,  an  antique  jewel,  always  cxercisea 
a  charm  over  the  novelist.     He  had  an  unerring  eye  for 
that  kind  of  thing. 

"  Exquisite,"  he  cried.  "  A  Rembrandt,  of  course, 
bat  I  don't  recollect  the  picture." 

"  The  picture  was  destroyed  by  accident  after  Rem- 
brandt had  engraved  it  with  his  own  hand,"  Bell  pro- 
ceeded to  explain.  He  was  quite  coherent  now,  but  he 
breathed  fast  and  loud.     "  1  shall  proceed  to  give  you 

F 


83  THE  CRIMSON   BLIND. 

l^e  history  of  the  picture  presently,  and  more  especially 
a  iiistory  of  the  engraving." 

"  Has  it  any  particular  name  ?  "  David  asked. 

"  Yes,  we  found  that  out.  It  was  called  '  The  Crimson 
Blind !  '" 

"  No  getting  away  from  the  crimson  blind,"  David 
murmured.  "  Still,  I  can  quite  imagine  that  t''  ha\  e 
been  the  name  of  the  picture.  That  shutter  or  blind 
might  have  had  a  setting  sun  behind  it,  which  would 
account  for  the  tender  warmth  of  the  kitchen  foreground 
and  the  deep  gloom  where  the  lovers  are  seated.  By 
Jove,  Bell,  it  is  a  magnificent  piece  of  work.  I've  a 
specicJ  fancy  for  Rembrandt  engravings,  but  I  never 
saw  one  equal  to  that." 

"  And  you  never  will,"  Bell  replied,  "  save  in  one 
instance.  The  picture  itself  was  painted  in  Rembrandt's 
modest  lodging  in  the  Keizerskroon  Tavern  after  the 
forced  sale  of  his  paintings  at  that  hostel  in  the  J'ear 
1658.  At  that  time  Remi^randt  was  painfully  poor,  as 
his  recorded  tavern  bills  show.  The  same  bills  also 
disclose  the  fact  that  '  The  Crimson  Blind '  was  painted 
for  a  private  customer  with  a  condition  that  the  subject 
should  be  engraved  as  well.  After  one  impression  had 
been  taken  off  the  plate  the  picture  was  destroyed  by 
a  careless  servant.  In  a  sudden  fit  of  rage  Rembrandt 
destroyed  the  plate,  having,  they  say,  only  taken  one 
impression  from  it." 

Then  there  is  only  one  of  these  engravings  in  the 
world  ?     What  a  find  1  " 

"  There  is  one  other,  as  I  know  to  my  cost,"  Bell 
said,  significantly.  "  Until  a  few  days  ago  I  never 
entertained  the  idea  that  there  were  two.  Steel,  you 
are  the  victim  of  a  vile  conspiracy,  but  it  is  nothing 
to  the  conspiracy  which  has  darkened  my  life. 

"  Sooner  or  later  I  always  felt  that  I  should  get  to 
the  bottom  of  the  mystery,  and  now  I  am  certain  of 
it.  And,  strange  as  it  may  seem,  I  verily  believe  that 
you  and  I  are  hunting  the  same  man  down — that  the 
one  man  is  at  the  bottom  of  the  two  evils.  But  you 
sh'ill  hear  my  story  presently.  What  we  have  to  find 
©ut  now  is  who  was  the  last  tenant  and  who  is  the  pre- 


AFTER   REMBRANDT.  85 

sent  owner  of  the  house,  and  incidentally  learn  who  this 
himber  belongs  to.  Ah,  this  has  been  a  great  day  for 
me!" 

Hell  spoke  exultingly,  a  great  light  shining  in  his  eyes. 
And  David  sapiently  asked  no  further  questions  for  the 
present.  All  that  he  wanted  to  know  would  coine  in 
time.  The  next  move,  of  course,  was  to  visit  the  agent 
of  the  property. 

A  smart,  dapper  little  man,  looking  absurdly  out  of 
place  in  an  exceedingly  spacious  office,  was  quite  ready 
to  give  every  information.  It  was  certainly  true  that 
218,  Brunswick  Square,  was  to  be  let  at  an  exceedingly 
low  rent  on  a  repairing  lease,  and  that  the  owner  had 
a  lot  more  property  in  Brighton  to  be  let  on  the  same 
terms.  The  lady  was  exceedingly  rich  and  eccentric ; 
indeed,  by  asking  such  low  rents  she  was  doing  her  best 
to  seriously  diminish  her  income. 

"  Do  you  know  the  lady  at  all  ?  "  Bell  asked. 

"  Not  personally,"  the  agent  admitted.  "  So  far  as 
I  can  tell,  the  property  came  into  the  present  owner's 
hands  some  years  ago  by  inheritance.  The  property 
also  included  a  very  old  house,  called  Longdean  Grange, 
not  far  from  Rottingdean,  where  the  lady,  Mrs.  Henson, 
lives  at  present.  Nobody  ever  goes  there,  nobody  ever 
visits  there,  and  to  keep  the  place  free  from  prying 
visitors  a  large  number  of  savage  dogs  are  allowed  to 
prowl  about  the  grounds." 

Bell  listened  eagerly.  Watching  him,  David  could 
see  that  his  eyes  glinted  like  points  of  steel.  There  was 
something  subtle  behind  all  this  common-place  that 
touched  the  imagination  of  the  novelist. 

"  Has  218  been  let  during  the  occupation  of  the 
present  owner  ?  "  Bell  asked. 

"  No,"  the  agent  replid.  "  But  the  present  owner — 
as  heir  to  the  property — I  am  told,  was  interested  in 
both  2t8  and  219,  which  used  to  be  a  kind  of  high-class 
convalescent  home  for  poor  clergy  and  the  widows  and 
daughters  of  poor  clergy  in  want  of  a  holiday.  The  one 
house  was  for  the  men  and  the  other  for  the  women, 
and  both  were  furnished  exactly  alike ;  in  fact, 
Mr.   Gates's  landlord,    the  tenant   of  219,   bought  the 


84  THE  CRIMSON   BLIND. 

furniture  exactly   as  it    stands   when  the  scheme   fell 
through." 

Steel  looked  up  swiftly.  A  sudden  inspiration  came 
to  him. 

"In  that  case  what  became  of  the  precisely  similar 
furniture  in  218  ?  "  he  asked. 

"  That  I  cannot  tell  you,"  the  agent  said.  "  That 
house  was  let  as  it  stood  to  some  sham  philanthropist 
whose  name  I  forget.  The  whole  thing  was  a  fraud,  and 
the  swindler  only  avoided  arrest  by  leaving  the  country. 
Probably  the  goods  were  stored  somewhere  or  perhaps 
seized  by  some  creditor.  But  I  really  can't  say  definitely 
without  looking  the  matter  up.  There  are  some  books 
and  prints  now  left  in  the  house  out  of  the  wreck. 
We  shall  probably  put  them  in  a  sale,  only  they 
have  been  overlooked.  The  whole  lot  will  not 
fetch  £5." 

"  Would  you  take  £5  for  them  ?  "  Bell  asked. 

"  Gladly.  Even  if  only  to  get  them  carted 
away." 

BeU  gravely  produced  a  £5  note,  for  which  he  asked 
and  received  a  receipt.  Then  he  and  Steel  repaired  to 
218  once  more,  whence  they  recovered  the  Rembrandt, 
and  subsequently  returned  the  keys  of  the  house  to  the 
agent.  There  was  an  air  of  repressed  excitement 
about  Bell  which  was  not  without  its  effect  upon 
his  companion.  The  cold,  hard  lines  seemed  to 
have  faded  from  Bell's  face  ;  there  was  a  brightness 
about  him  that  added  to  his  already  fine  physical 
beauty. 

"  And  now,  perhaps,  you  will  be  good  enough  to 
explain,"  Da\nd  suggested. 

My  dear  fellow,  it  would  take  too  long,"  Bell  cried. 
"  Presently  I  am  going  to  tell  you  the  story  of  the 
tragedy  of  my  life.  You  have  doubtless  wondered,  as 
others  have  wondered,  why  I  dropped  out  of  the  road 
when  the  goal  was  in  sight.  Well,  your  curiosity  is 
ab<)ut  to  be  gratified.  I  am  going  to  help  you,  and  in 
return  you  are  going  to  help  me  to  come  back  into  the 
race  again.  By  way  of  a  start,  you  are  going  to  ask 
me  to  come  and  dine  with  you  to-night." 


AFTER   REMBRANDT.  85 

"  At  half-past  seven,  then.  Nothing  will  give  me 
greater  pleasure." 

"  Spoken  like  a  man  and  a  brother.  We  will  dine, 
and  I  wUl  teU  you  my  story  after  the  house  is  quiet. 
Aad  if  I  ask  you  to  accompany  me  on  a  midnight  adven- 
ture you  will  not  say  me  nay  ?  " 

"  Not  in  my  present  mood,  at  any  rate.  Adventure, 
with  a  dash  of  danger  in  it,  suits  my  present  mood 
exactly.  And  if  there  is  to  be  physical  violence,  so 
much  the  better.  My  diplomacy  may  be  weak,  but 
physically  I  am  not  to  be  despised  in  a  row." 

"  Well,  we'll  try  and  avoid  the  latter,  if  possible," 
Bell  laughed.  "  Still,  for  your  satisfaction,  I  may 
say  there  is  just  the  chance  of  a  scrimmage.  And 
now  I  really  must  go,  because  I  have  any  amount 
of  work  to  do  for  Gates.  Till  half-past  seven,  au 
revoir." 

Steel  lighted  a  cigarette  and  strolled  thoughtfully 
homewards  along  the  front.  The  more  he  thought  over 
the  mj'stery  the  more  tangled  it  became.  And  yet  he 
felt  perfectly  sure  that  he  was  on  the  right  track.  The 
discovery  that  both  those  houses  had  been  furnished 
exactly  alike  at  one  time  was  a  most  important  one. 
And  David  no  longer  believed  that  he  had  been  to 
No.  2ig  on  the  night  of  the  great  adventure.  Then  he 
found  himself  thinking  about  Ruth  Gates's  gentle  face 
and  lovely  eyes,  until  he  looked  up  and  saw  the  girl 
before  him. 

"  You — you  wanted  to  speak  to  me  ?  "  he  stammered. 

"  I  followed  you  on  purpose,"  the  girl  said,  quietly. 
"  I  can't  tell  you  everything,  because  it  is  not  my  secret 
to  tell.  But  believe  me  everything  will  come  out  right 
in  the  end.  Don't  think  badly  of  me,  don't  be  hard 
and  bitter  because " 

"  Because  I  am  nothing  of  the  kind,"  David  smiled. 
"  It  is  impossible  to  look  into  a  face  like  yours  and  doubt 
you.  And  I  am  certain  that  you  are  acting  loyally  and 
faithfully  for  the  sake  of  others  who ' 

"  Yes,  yes,  and  for  your  sake,  too.  Pray  try  and 
remember  that.  For  your  sake,  too.  Oh,  if  you  only 
knew  how  I  admire  and  esteem  you  !     If  only " 


m  THE  CRIMSON   BLIND. 

She  paused  with  the  deep  blush  crimsoning  her  face. 
Davnd  caught  her  hand,  and  it  seemed  to  him  lor  a 
moment  that  she  returned  the  pressure. 

"  Let  me  help  you,"  he  whispered.  "  Only  be  my 
friend  and  I  will  forgive  everything." 

She  gave  him  a  long  look  of  her  deep,  velvety  eyes, 
'^he  flaalied  him  a  little  smile,  and  was  gooc 


CHAPTER    Xn. 

-THE     CRIMSON    BLIN  D." 

Hatherly  Bell  turned  up  at  Downend  Terrace  gay 
and  debonair  as  if  he  had  not  a  single  trouble  in  the 
world.  His  evening  dress  was  of  the  smartest  and  he 
had  a  rose  in  his  buttonhole.  From  his  cab  he  took  a 
square  iTTOwn  paper  parcel,  which  he  deposited  in  David's 
ttudy  with  particular  care. 

He  made  no  allusion  whatever  to  the  sterner  business 
of  the  evening  ;  he  was  gay  and  light  -  hearted  as 
a  child,  so  that  Mrs.  Steel  sat  up  quite  an  hour 
later  than  her  usual  time,  absolutely  unconscious  of 
the  fact  that  she  had  broken  a  rigid  rule  of  ten  years' 
•tanding. 

"  Now  let  us  go  into  the  study  and  smoke  a  cigar," 
David  suggested. 

Bell  dragged  a  long  deck-chair  into  the  conservatory 
and  lighted  a  Massa.  Steel's  offer  of  whisky  and  soda 
was  declined. 

"  An  ideal  place  for  a  novelist  who  has  a  keen  eye  for 
the  beautiful,"  he  said.  "  There  you  have  your  books 
and  pictures,  your  stained  glass  and  china,  and  when 
you  turn  your  eyes  this  way  they  are  gLiddened  by  green 
foliage  and  lovely  flowers.  It's  hard  to  connect  such  a 
room  with  a  tragedy." 

"  And  yet  the  tragedy  was  worked  out  close  by  where 
you  are  sitting.  But  never  mind  that.  Come  to  your 
ttory,  and  let  me  see  if  we  can  fit  it  into  mine" 

87 


88  THE  CRIMSON    BLIND- 

BdH  took  a  fresh  pull  at  his  cigar  and  plunged  into 
his  subject. 

"  About  seven  years  ago  professional  business  took  me 
to  Amsterdam  ;  a  brilliant  young  medical  genius  who 
was  drinking  himself  prematurely  into  his  grave  ha<l 
made  some  wonderful  discoveries  relating  to  the  brain  ami 
psychology  generally,  so  I  decided  to  learn  what  I  could 
before  it  was  too  late.  I  found  the  young  doctor  to  be 
an  exceedingly  good  fellow,  only  too  ready  to  speak  of 
his  discoveries,  and  there  I  stayed  for  a  year.  My 
word  !  what  do  I  not  owe  to  that  misguided  mind  I 
And  what  a  revolution  he  would  have  made  in  medicine 
and  surgery  had  he  only  lived  ! 

"  Well,  in  Amsterdam  I  got  to  know  everybody  who 
was  worth  knowing — medical,  artistic,  social.  And 
amongst  the  rest  was  an  Englishman  called  Lord  Lit- 
timer,  his  son,  and  an  exceedingly  clever  nephew  of 
his,  Henson  by  name,  who  was  the  son's  tutor.  Litti- 
mer  was  a  savant,  a  scholar,  and  a  fine  connoisseur  as 
regarded  pictures.  He  was  popularly  supposed  to  have 
the  finest  collection  of  old  prints  in  England.  He  would 
travel  anywhere  in  search  of  something  fresh,  and  the 
rumour  of  some  apocryphal  treasure  in  Amsterdam  had 
brought  him  thither.  He  and  I  were  friends  from  the 
first,  as,  indeed,  were  the  son  and  myself.  Henson,  the 
nephew,  was  more  quiet  and  reserved,  but  fond,  as  I 
discovered,  of  a  little  secret  dissipation. 

"  In  those  days  I  was  not  averse  to  a  httle  life  myself. 
I  was  passionately  fond  of  all  games  of  cards,  and  I 
am  afraid  that  I  was  in  the  habit  of  gambling  to  a 
greater  extent  than  I  could  afford.  I  don't  gamble  now 
and  I  don't  play  cards ;  in  fact.  I  shall  never  touch  a 
card  again  as  long  as  I  live.  Why,  you  shall  hear  all  in 
good  time. 

"  We  were  all  getting  on  very  well  together  at  that 
time  when  Lord  Littimer's  sister  paid  us  a  visit.  She 
came  accompanied  by  a  daughter  called  Enid.  I  will 
not  describe  her,  because  no  words  of  mine  could  do 
her  justice.  In  a  word,  I  fell  over  head  and  ears  in 
love  with  Enid,  and  in  that  state  I  have  remained  ever 
since.    Of  all  the  crosses  that  I  have  to  bear  the  know- 


"THE  CRIMSON   BLIND."  89 

ledge  that  I  love  Enid  and  that  she  loves — and  despises 
—me,  is  by  far  the  heaviest.  But  I  don't  want  to  dwell 
upon  that. 

"  We  were  a  very  happy  party  there  until  Van  Sneck 
and  Von  Gulden  turned  up.  Enid  and  I  had  come  to 
an  understanding,  and,  though  we  kept  our  secret,  we 
were  not  going  to  do  so  for  long.  From  the  very  first 
Von  Gulden  admired  her.  He  was  a  handsome,  swag- 
gering soldier,  a  good-looking,  wealthy  man,  who  had 
a  great  reputation  for  gallantry,  and  something  worse. 
Perhaps  the  fellow  guessed  how  things  lay,  for  he  never 
troubled  to  conceal  his  dislike  and  contempt  for  me. 
It  is  no  fault  of  mine  that  I  am  extremely  sensitive  as 
to  my  personal  appearance,  but  Von  Gulden  played 
upon  it  until  he  drove  me  nearly  mad.  He  challenged 
me  snceringly  to  certain  sports  wherein  he  knew  I  could 
not  shine  ;  he  challenged  me  to  ecarte,  where  I  fancied 
I  was  his  master. 

"  Was  I  ?  Well,  we  had  been  dining  that  night,  and 
perhaps  too  freely,  for  I  entirely  lost  my  head  before  I 
began  the  game  in  earnest.  Those  covert  sneers  had 
nearly  driven  me  mad.  To  make  a  long  story  short, 
when  I  got  up  from  the  table  that  night,  I  owed  my 
opponent  nearly  £800,  without  the  faintest  prospect  of 
paying  a  tenth  part  of  it.  I  was  only  a  poor,  ambitious 
young  man  then,  with  my  way  to  make  in  the  world. 
And  if  that  money  were  not  forthcoming  in  the  next 
few  days  I  was  utterly  ruined. 

"  The  following  morning  the  great  discovery  was 
made.  The  Van  Sneck  1  have  alluded  to  was  an  artist, 
a  dealer,  a  man  of  the  shadiest  reputation,  whom  my 
patron,  Lord  Littimcr,  had  picked  up.  It  was  Van 
Sneck  who  produced  the  copy  of  '  The  Crimson  Blind.' 
Not  only  did  he  produce  the  copy,  but  he  produced  the 
history  from  some  recently  discovered  paj^crs  relating 
CO  the  Keizerskroon  Tavern  of  the  year  1C56,  which 
would  have  satisfied  a  more  exacting  man  than  Littimer. 
In  the  end  the  Viscount  purchased  the  engraving  for 
jfSoo  Enghsh. 

"  You  can  imagine  how  delighted  he  was  with  his 
prize — he  had  secured  an  engraving^by  Rembrand    that 


90  THE  CRIMSON   BLIND. 

was  absolutely  unique.  Under  more  favourable  circum- 
stances I  should  have  shared  that  pleasure.  But  I  was 
face  to  face  with  ruin,  and  therefore  I  had  but  small 
heart  for  rejoicing. 

"  I  cajne  down  the  next  morning  after  a  sleepless 
night,  and  with  a  wild  endeavour  to  scheme  some  way 
of  getting  the  money  to  pay  my  creditor.  To  my 
absolute  amazement  I  found  a  polite  note  from  the 
lieutenant  coldly  thanking  me  for  the  notes  I  had  sent 
him  by  messenger,  and  handing  me  a  formal  receipt  for 
£800.  At  first  I  regarded  it  as  a  hoax.  But,  with  all 
his  queer  ways,  Von  Gulden  was  a  gentleman.  Some- 
body had  paid  the  debt  for  me.  And  somebody  had, 
though  I  have  never  found  out  to  this  day.  " 

"  All  the  same,  you  have  your  suspicions  ?  "  Steel 
suggested. 

"  I  have  a  very  strong  suspicion,  but  I  have  never 
been  able  to  verify  it.  All  the  same,  you  can  imagine 
what  an  enormous  weight  it  was  off  my  mind,  and  how 
comparatively  cheerful  I  was  as  I  crossed  over  to  the 
hotel  of  Lord  Littimer  after  breakfast.  I  found  him 
literally  beside  himself  with  passion.  Some  thief  had 
got  into  his  room  in  the  night  and  stolen  his  Rembrandt. 
The  frame  was  intact,  but  the  engraving  had  been  roUcd 
up  and  taken  away." 

"  Very  like  the  story  of  the  stolen  Gainsborough."    ' 

"  No  doubt  the  one  theft  inspired  the  other.  I  was 
sent  off  on  foot  to  look  for  Van  Sneck,  only  to  find  that 
he  had  suddenly  left  the  city.  He  had  got  into  trouble 
with  the  police,  and  had  fled  to  avoid  being  sent  to  gaol. 
And  from  that  day  to  this  nothing  has  been  seen  of  that 
picture." 

"  But  I  read  to-day  that  it  is  still  in  Littimer  Castle," 
said  David. 

"  Another  one,"  B^  observed.  "  ObUge  me  by 
opening  yonder  parcel.  There  you  see  is  tlie  print  that 
I  purchased  to-day  for  £5.  This,  this,  my  friend,  is  the 
print  that  was  stolen  from  Littimer's  lodgings  in  Am- 
sterdam. If  you  look  closely  at  it  you  will  sec  four 
dull  red  spots  in  the  left-hand  comer.  They  are  sup- 
posed to  be  blood-spots  from  a  cut  finger  of  the  artist. 


"THE  CRIMSON   BLIND."  91 

I  am  prepared  to  swear  that  this  is  the  very  print,  frame 
and  all,  that  was  purchased  in  Amsterdam  from  that 
Bhady  scoundrel  Van  Sneck." 

"  But  Littimer  is  credited  with  having  one  in  his 
collection,"  David  urged. 

"  He  has  one  in  his  collection,"  Bell  said,  coolly. 
*  And,  moreover,  he  is  firmly  under  the  impression  that 
he  is  at  present  happy  in  the  possession  of  his  own  lost 
treasure.  And  up  to  this  very  day  I  was  under  exactly 
the  same  delusion.  Now  I  know  that  there  must  have 
been  two  copies  of  the  plate,  and  that  this  knowledge 
was  used  to  ruin  me." 

"  But,"  Steel  murmured,  "  I  don't  exactly  see " 

"  I  am  just  coming  to  that.  We  hunted  high  and 
low  for  the  picture,  but  nowhere  could  it  be  found. 
The  affair  created  a  profound  impression  in  Amsterdam. 
A  day  or  two  later  Von  Gulden  went  back  to  his  duty 
on  the  Belgian  frontier  and  business  called  me  home. 
I  packed  my  solitary  portmanteau  and  departed.  When 
I  arrived  at  the  frontier  I  opened  my  luggage  for  the 
Custom  officer  and  the  whole  contents  were  turned  out 
without  ceremony.  On  the  bottom  was  a  roll  of  paper 
on  a  stick  that  I  quite  failed  to  recognise.  An  inquisi- 
tive Customs  House  officer  opened  it  and  immediately 
called  the  lieutenant  in  charge.  Strange  to  say,  he 
proved  to  be  Von  Gulden.  He  came  up  to  me,  very 
gravely,  with  the  paper  in  his  hand. 

"  '  May  I  inquire  how  this  came  amongst  your  lug- 
gage ?  '  he  asked. 

'  I  could  say  nothing  ;  I  was  dumb.  For  there  lay 
the  Rembrandt.  The  red  spots  had  been  smudged  out 
of  the  corner,  but  there  the  picture  was. 

"  Well,  I  lost  my  head  then.  I  accused  Von  Gulden 
oi  all  kinds  of  disgraceful  things.  And  he  behaved  like 
a  gentleman — he  made  me  ashamed  of  myself.  But 
he  kept  the  picture  and  returned  it  to  Littimer,  and  I 
was  ruined.  Lord  Littimer  declined  to  j)rosecute,  but 
he  would  not  see  me  and  he  would  hear  of  no  exjilana- 
tion.  Indeed,  I  had  none  to  offer.  Enid  refused  to  see 
me  also  or  reply  to  my  letters.  The  story  of  my  big 
gambhng  debt,  and  its  liquidation,  got   About.     Steel, 


Qa  THE  CRIMSON  BLIND- 

I  was  ruined.  Some  enemy  had  done  this  thing,  and 
from  that  day  to  this  I  have  been  a  marked  man." 

"  But  how  on  earth  was  it  done  ?  "  Steel  cried. 

''  For  the  present  I  can  only  make  surmises,"  Bell 
replied.  "  Van  Sneck  was  a  slijjpery  dog.  Of  course, 
he  had  found  two  of  those  plates.  He  kept  the  one 
back  so  as  to  sell  the  other  at  a  fancy  price.  My  enemy 
discovered  this,  and  Van  Sneck's  sudden  flight  was  his 
opportunity.  He  could  afford  to  get  rid  of  me  at  an 
apparently  dear  rate.  He  stole  Littimer's  engraving — 
in  fact,  he  must  have  done  so,  or  I  should  not  have  it 
at  this  moment.  Then  he  smudged  out  some  imaginary 
spots  on  the  other  and  hid  it  in  my  luggage,  knowing 
that  it  would  be  found.  Also  he  knew  that  it  would 
be  returned  to  Littimer,  and  that  the  stolen  plate  could 
\ye  laid  aside  and  produced  at  some  remote  date  as  an 
original  find.  The  find  has  been  mine,  and  it  will  go 
hard  if  I  can't  get  to  the  bottom  of  the  mystery  new. 
It  is  strange  that  your  mysterious  trouble  and  mine 
should  be  bound  up  so  closely  together,  but  in  the  end 
it  will  simplify  matters,  for  the  very  reason  that  we  are 
both  on  the  hunt  for  the  same  man." 

"  Which  man  we  have  got  to  find.  Bell." 

"  Granted.  We  will  bait  for  him  as  one  does  for  a 
wily  old  trout.  The  fly  shall  be  the  Rembrandt,  and 
you  see  he  will  rise  to  it  in  time.  But  beyond  this  I 
have  made  one  or  two  important  discoveries  to-day. 
We  are  going  to  the  house  of  the  strange  lady  who  owns 
218  and  219,  Brunswick  Square,  and  I  shall  be  greatly 
mistaken  if  she  does  not  prove  to  be  an  old  acquaintance 
of  mine.     There  will  be  danger." 

"  You  propose  to  go  to-night  ?  " 

"  I  propose  to  go  at  once,"  Bell  said.  "  Dark  hours 
are  always  best  for  dark  business.  Now,  which  is  the 
nearest  way  to  Longdean  Grange  ?  " 

"  So  the  House  of  the  Silent  Sorrow,  as  they  call  it, 
is  to  be  our  destination  !  I  must  confess  that  the  place 
has  ever  held  a  strange  fascination  for  me.  We  will  go 
over  the  golf  links  and  behind  Ovingdean  village.  It  if 
a  rare  spot  for  a  tragedy." 

Bell  rose  and  lighted  a  fresh  cigai. 


"THE  CRIMSON   BLIND."  93 

**  Come  along,"  he  said.  "  Poke  that  Rembrandt  be- 
hind your  books  with  its  face  to  the  wall.  I  would  not 
lose  that  for  anything  now.  No,  on  second  thoughts  I 
find  I  shall  have  to  take  it  with  me." 

David  closed  the  door  carefully  behind  him,  and  the 
two  stepped  out  into  the  nighL 


CHAPTER     XIIL 

"  GOOD    DOG  !  " 

Two  dancing  eyes  of  flame  were  streaming  up  the  lane 
towards  the  girls,  a  long  shadow  slanted  across  the 
white  pathway,  the  steady  flick  of  hoofs  drew  nearer. 
Then  the  hoofs  ceased  their  smiting  of  the  dust  and  a 
man's  voice  spoke. 

"  Bettor  turn  and  wait  for  us  by  the  farm,  driver," 
the  voice  said.     "  Bell,  can  you  manage,  man  ?  " 

"  Who  was  that  ?  "  Enid  whispered.     "  A  stranger  ?  " 

"  Not  precisely,"  Ruth  replied.  "  That  is  Mr.  David 
Steel.  Oh,  I  am  sure  we  can  trust  him.  Don't  annoy 
him.     Think  of  the  trouble  he  is  in  for  our  sakes." 

"  I  do,"  Knid  said,  drily.  "  I  am  also  thinking  of 
Reginald.  If  our  dear  Reginald  escapes  from  the  foster- 
ing care  of  the  dogs  we  shall  be  ruined.  That  man's 
hearing  is  wonderful.  He  will  come  creeping  down  here 
on  those  large  flat  feet  of  his,  and  that  cunning  brain 
will  take  in  everything  like  a  flash.     Good  dog  !  " 

A  hound  in  the  distance  growled,  and  then  another 
howled  mournfully.  It  was  the  plaint  of  the  beast 
who  has  found  his  quany,  impatient  for  the  gaoler  to 
arrive.  So  long  as  that  continued  Henson  was  safe. 
Any  attempt  to  escape,  and  he  would  be  torn  to  pieces. 
Just  at  the  present  moment  Enid  almost  hoped  that  the 
attempt  would  be  made.  It  certainly  was  all  right  for 
the  present,  but  then  Williams  might  happen  along  on 
his  way  to  th«  stables  at  any  moment. 


"GOOD    DOGI*  95 

The  two  men  were  coming  nearer.  They  both  paused 
as  the  dogs  gave  tongue.  Through  the  thick  belt  of 
trees  lights  gleamed  from  one  or  two  windows  of  the 
house.  Steel  pulled  up  and  shuddered  shghtly  in  spite 
of  himself. 

"  Crimson  blinds,"  he  said.  "  Crimson  blinds  all 
through  this  business.  They  are  beginning  to  get  on 
my  nerves.     What  about  those  dogs,  Bell  ?  " 

"  Dogs  or  no  dogs,  I  am  not  going  back  now,"  Bell 
muttered.  "  It's  perfectly  useless  to  come  here  in  the 
daytime ;  therefore  we  must  fall  back  upon  a  httle 
amateur  burglary.  There's  a  girl  yonder  who  might 
have  assisted  me  at  one  time,  but " 

Enid  slipped  into  the  road.  The  night  was  passably 
light  and  her  beautiful  features  were  fairly  clear  to  the 
startled  men  in  the  road. 

"  The  girl  is  here,"  she  said.     "  What  do  you  want  ?  " 

Bell  and  his  companion  cried  out  simultaneously  : 
Bell  because  he  was  so  suddenly  face  to  face  with  one 
who  was  very  dear  to  him,  David  because  it  seemed  to 
him  that  he  recognised  the  voice  from  the  darkness,  the 
voice  of  his  great  adventure.  And  there  was  another 
surprise  as  he  saw  Ruth  Gates  side  by  side  with  the 
owner  of  that  wonderful  voice. 

"  Enid  !  "  Bell  cried,  hoarsely.     "  I  did  not  expect " 

"  To  confront  me  like  this,"  the  girl  said,  coldly. 
"  That  I  quite  understand.  What  I  don't  understand 
is  wliy  you  intmde  your  hated  presence  here." 

r>r]l  shook  his  handsome  head  mournfully.  He  looked 
strnngely  downcast  and  dejected,  and  none  the  less, 
perhaps,  because  a  fall  in  crossing  the  down  had  severely 
wrenched  his  ankle.  But  for  a  belated  cab  on  the 
Rottingdean  road  he  would  not  have  been  here  now. 

"  As  hard  and  cruel  as  ever,"  he  said.  "  Not  one  word 
to  me,  not  one  word  in  my  defence.  And  all  the  time 
I  am  the  victim  of  a  vile  conspiracy " 

"  Conspiracy  I  Do  you  call  vulgar  theft  a  con- 
spiracy ?  " 

"  It  was  nothing  else,"  David  put  in,  eagerly.  "  A 
most  extraordinary  conspiracy.  The  kind  of  thing  that 
you  would  not  have  deemed  possible  out  of  a  book." 


96  THE  CRIMSON   BLIND, 

**  And  who  might  this  gentleman  be  ?  **  Enid  asked< 
haughtily. 

"  A  thousand  pardons  for  my  want  of  ceremony," 
David  said.  "  If  I  had  not  been  under  the  impression 
that  we  had  met  before  I  should  never  have  presumed " 

"  Oh,  a  truce  to  this,"  Bell  cried.  "  We  are  wasting 
time..  The  hour  is  not  far  distant,  Enid,  when  you  will 
ask  my  pardon.  Meanwhile  I  am  going  up  to  the  house, 
and  you  are  going  to  take  me  there.  Come  what  way, 
I  don't  sleep  to-night  untU  I  have  speech  with  your 
aunt." 

David  had  drawn  a  little  aside.  By  a  kind  of  in- 
stinct Ruth  Gates  followed  him.  A  shaft  of  grey  light 
glinted  upon  her  cycle  in  the  grass  by  the  roadside. 
Enid  and  Bell  were  talking  in  vehement  whispers — 
they  seemed  to  be  absolutely  unconscious  of  anybody 
else  but  themselves.  David  could  see  the  anger  and 
scorn  on  the  pale,  high-bred  face ;  he  could  see  Bell 
gradually  expanding  as  he  brought  all  his  strength  and 
firm  power  of  will  to  bear. 

"  What  will  be  the  upshot  of  it  ? "  Ruth  asked, 
timidly. 

"  Bell  will  conquer,"  David  replied.  "  He  always 
does,  you  know." 

"  I  am  afraid  you  don't  take  my  meaning,  Mr.  Steel." 

David  looked  down  into  the  sweet,  troubled  face  of 
his  companion,  and  thence  away  to  the  vivid  crimson 
patches  beyond  the  dark  belt  of  foliage.  Ever  and  anon 
the  intense  stillness  of  the  night  was  broken  by  the  long- 
drawn  howl  of  one  of  the  hounds.  David  remembered 
it  for  years  afterwards ;  it  formed  the  most  realistic 
chapter  of  one  of  his  most  popular  novels. 

"  Heaven  only  knows,"  he  said.  "  I  have  been 
dragged  into  tliis  business,  but  what  it  means  I  know 
no  more  than  a  child.  I  am  mixed  up  in  it,  and  Bell 
is  mixed  up  in  it,  and  so  are  you.  Why  we  shall  perhaps 
know  some  day." 

"  You  are  not  angry  with  me  ?  " 

"  Why,  no.  Only  you  might  have  had  a  little  more 
confidence  in  me." 

"  Mr.  Steely  we  dared  not.     We  wanted  your  advice. 


"GOOD  DOGl"  f7 

and  nothing  more.  Even  now  I  am  afraid  I  am  saying 
too  mnch.  There  is  a  withering  blight  over  yonder 
house  that  is  beyond  mere  words.  And  twice  gallant 
gentlemen  have  come  forward  to  our  assistance.  Both 
of  them  are  dead.  And  if  we  had  dragged  you,  a  total 
stranger,  into  the  arena,  we  should  morally  have  mur- 
dered you." 

"  Am  I  not  within  the  charmed  circle  now  ?  "  David 
smiled. 

"  Not  of  our  free  will,"  Ruth  said,  eagerly.  "  You 
came  into  the  tangle  with  Hatherly  Bell.  Thank 
Heaven  you  have  an  ally  like  that.  And  yet  I  am  filled 
with  shame " 

"  My  dear  young  lady,  what  have  you  to  be  ashamed 
of?" 

Ruth  covered  her  face  with  her  hands  for  a  moment 
and  David  saw  a  tear  or  two  trickle  through  the  slim 
fingers.  He  took  the  hands  in  his,  gently,  tenderly,  and 
glanced  into  the  fine,  grey  eyes.  Never  had  he  been 
moved  to  a  woman  like  this  before. 

"  But  what  will  you  think  of  me  ?  "  Ruth  whispered. 
"  You  have  been  so  good  and  kind  and  I  am  so  foolish. 
What  can  you  think  of  a  girl  who  is  all  this  way  from 
home  at  midnight  ?     It  is  so — so  unmaidenly." 

"  It  might  be  in  some  girls,  but  not  in  you,"  David 
said,  boldly.  "  One  has  only  to  look  in  your  face  and 
see  that  only  the  good  and  the  pure  dwell  there.  But 
you  were  not  afraid  ?  " 

"  Horribly  afraid.  The  very  shadows  startled  me. 
But  when  I  discovered  your  errand  to-night  I  was  bound 
to  come.  My  loyalty  to  Enid  demanded  it,  and  I  had 
not  one  single  person  in  the  world  whom  I  could  trust." 

"  If  you  had  only  come  to  me.  Miss  Ruth " 

"  I  know,  I  know  now.  Oh,  it  is  a  blessed  thing  for 
a  lonely  girl  to  have  one  good  man  that  she  can  rely 
upon.  And  you  have  been  so  very  good,  and  we  have 
treated  you  very,  very  badly." 

But  David  would  not  hear  anything  of  the  kind. 
The  whole  adventure  was  strange  to  a  degree,  but  it 
•ecmed  to  matter  nothing  so  long  as  he  had  Ruth  for 
company.     Still,  the  girl  must  be  got  home.     She  could 

C 


9S  THE  CRIMSON   BLIND. 

not  be  allowed  to  remaiin  here,  nor  must  she  be  permitted 
to  return  to  Brighton  alone.     Bell  strode  up  at  the  same 

moment. 

"  Miss  Henson  has  been  so  good  as  to  listen  to  my 
arguments,"  he  said.  "  I  am  going  into  the  house. 
Don't  worry  about  me,  but  send  Miss  Gates  home  in 
the  cab.     I  shall  manage  somehow." 

David  turned  eagerly  to  Ruth. 

"  That  will  be  best,"  he  said.  "  We  can  put  your 
machine  on  the  cab,  and  I'll  accompany  you  part  of  the 
way  home.  Our  cabman  will  think  that  you  came  from 
the  house.     I  shan't  be  long.  Bell." 

Ruth  assented  gratefully.  As  David  put  her  in  the 
cab  Bell  whispered  to  him  to  return  as  soon  as  possible, 
but  the  girl  heard  nothing  of  this, 

"  How  kind — how  kind  you  are,"  she  muMuured. 

"  Perhaps  some  day  you  wi  I  be  kind  to  me,"  David 
said,  and  Ruth  blushed  in  tha  darkuess. 


CHAPTER    XIV. 

BEHIND     THE     BLIND. 

There  was  a  long  pause  till  the  sound  of  the  horse's 
hoofs  died  away.  BeU  was  waiting  for  his  companion 
to  speak.  Her  head  was  partly  turned  from  him,  so 
that  he  could  only  watch  the  dainty  beauty  of  her 
profile.  She  stood  there  cold  and  still,  but  he  could 
see  that  she  was  profoundly  agitated. 

"  I  never  thought  to  see  the  day  when  I  should  trust 
you  again,"  she  said ;  "I  never  expected  to  trust  any 
man  again." 

"  You  will  trust  me,  darling,"  Bell  said,  passionately. 
"  If  you  still  care  for  me  as  I  care  for  you.     Do  you  ?  " 

The  question  came  keen  as  steel.  Enid  shivered  and 
hesitated.     Bell  laid  a  hght  hand  on  her  arm. 

"  Speak,"  he  said.  "  I  am  going  to  clear  myself,  I 
am  going  to  take  back  my  good  name.  But  if  you  no 
longer  care  for  me  the  rest  matters  nothing.     S{)eak." 

"  I  am  not  one  of  those  who  change,  God  pity  me," 
Enid  murmured. 

Bell  drew  a  long,  deep  breath.  He  wanted  no  assur- 
ance beyond  that. 

"  Then  lead  the  way,"  he  said.  "  I  have  come  at 
the  right  time  ;  I  have  been  looking  for  you  everywhere, 
and  I  find  you  in  the  hour  of  your  deepest  sorrow. 
VVTien  I  knew  your  aimt  last  she  was  a  cheerful,  happy 
woman.  From  what  I  hear  now  she  is  suffering,  you 
are  all  suffering,  under  some  blighting  grief." 

99 


100  THE  CRIMSON  BLIND. 

"  Oh,  if  you  only  knew  what  that  sorrow  wat^ 
Hatherly." 

"  Hatherly  !  How  good  the  old  name  sounds  from 
your  lips.  Nobody  has  ever  called  me  that  since— 
since  we  parted.  And  to  think  that  I  should  have  been 
searching  for  you  all  these  years,  when  Miss  Ruth  Gates 
could  have  given  me  the  clue  at  any  time.  And  why 
have  you  been  playing  such  strange  tricks  upon  my 
friend  David  Steel  ?     Why  have  you What  is  that  ?  " 

Somebody  was  moving  somewhere  in  the  grounds,  and 
a  voice  shouted  for  help.     Enid  started  forward. 

"  It  is  Williams  coming  from  the  stables,"  she  said. 
"  I  have  so  arranged  it  that  the  dogs  are  holding  up  my 
dear  cousin,  Reginald  Henson,  who  is  calling  upon 
Williams  to  release  him.  If  Reginald  gets  back  to  the 
house  now  we  are  ruined-  Follow  me  as  well  as  you 
can." 

Enid  disappeared  down  a  narrow,  tangled  path, 
leaving  Bell  to  limp  along  painfully  in  her  track.  A 
little  way  off  Henson  was  yelling  lustily  for  assistance. 
Williams,  who  had  evidently  taken  in  the  situation, 
was  coming  up  leisurely,  chuckling  at  the  discomfiture 
of  the  enemy.  The  hounds  were  whining  and  baying. 
From  the  house  came  the  notes  of  a  love  song  passion- 
ately declaimed.  A  couple  of  the  great  dogs  came 
snarling  up  to  Bell  and  laid  their  grimy  muzzles  on  his 
thighs.  A  cold  sensation  crept  up  and  down  his  spine 
as  he  came  to  a  standstill. 

"  The  brutes  !  "  he  muttered.  "  Margaret  Henson 
must  be  mad  indeed  to  have  these  creatures  about  the 
place.  Ah  !  would  you  ?  Very  well,  I'll  play  the  game 
fairly,  and  not  move.  If  I  call  out  I  shall  spoil  the 
game.  If  I  remain  quiet  I  shall  have  a  pleasant  night 
of  it.  Let  us  hope  for  the  best  and  that  Enid  will  under- 
stand the  situation." 

Meanwhile  Enid  had  come  up  with  Williams.  She 
laid  her  hand  imperiously  upon  his  lii)S. 

"  Not  a  word,"  she  whispered.  "  Mr.  Henson  is  held 
up  by  the  dogs.  He  must  remain  whore  he  is  till  I  give 
you  the  signal  to  release  him.  I  know  you  answered 
his  call,  but  you  are  to  go  no  farther." 


BEHIND    THE   BLIND.  loi 

WiUiams  assented  willingly  enough.  Everything  that 
tended  to  the  discomfort  of  Reginald  Henson  filled  him 
with  a  peculiar  and  deep-seated  pleasure. 

"  Very  well,  miss,"  he  said,  demurely.  "  And  dcn't 
you  hurry,  miss.  This  is  a  kind  of  job  that  calls  for 
plenty  of  patience.  And  I'm  really  shocking  deaf  to- 
night." 

Williams  retreated  leisurely  in  the  direction  of  the 
stables,  but  his  malady  was  not  so  distressing  that  he 
failed  to  hear  a  groan  and  a  snarling  curse  from  Honson. 
Enid  fled  back  along  the  track,  where  she  found  Bell 
standing  patiently  with  a  dog's  muzzle  close  to  cither 
knee.  His  face  was  white  and  shining,  otherwise  he 
showed  no  signs  of  fear.  Enid  laid  a  hand  on  the  head 
of  either  dog,  and  they  rolled  Uke  great  cats  at  her  feet 
in  the  bushes. 

"  Now  come  swiftly,"  she  whispered.  "  There  is  no 
time  to  be  lost." 

They  were  in  the  house  at  last,  crossing  the  dusty 
floor,  with  the  motes  dancing  in  the  lamp-light,  deaden- 
ing their  footsteps  and  muffling  the  intense  silence. 
Above  the  stillness  rose  the  song  from  the  drawing- 
room  ;  from  without  came  the  restless  murmur  of  the 
dogs.  Enid  entered  the  drawing-room,  and  Bell  limped 
in  behind  her.  The  music  immediately  ceased.  As 
Enid  glanced  at  her  aunt  she  saw  that  the  far-away 
look  had  died  from  her  eyes,  that  the  sparkle  and  bright- 
ness of  reason  were  there.  She  had  come  out  of  the 
mist  and  the  shadows  for  a  time  at  any  rate. 

"  Dr.  Hatherly  Bell  to  see  you,  aunt,"  Enid  said,  in 
a  low  tone. 

Margaret  Henson  shot  up  from  the  piano  like  a 
statue.  There  was  no  welcome  on  her  face,  no  sur- 
prise there,  nothing  but  deep,  unutterable  contempt  and 
loathing. 

"  I  have  been  asleep,"  she  said.  She  passed  her  hand 
dreamily  over  her  face.  "  I  have  been  in  a  dream  for 
seven  long  years.  Enid  brought  me  back  to  the  music 
again  to-night,  and  it  touched  my  heart,  and  now  I  am 
awake  again.  Do  you  recollect  the  '  Slumber  Song,' 
Hatherly   Bell  ?    The   lust   time   I   sang   it    you    were 


roj  THE  CRIMSON   BLIND. 

present.     It  was  a  happy  night ;    the  very  last  happy 

night  in  the  world  to  me." 

"  I  recollect  it  perfectly  well,  Lady  Littimer,"  Bell  said. 

"  Lady  Littimer !  How  strange  it  is  to  hear  that 
name  again.  Seven  years  since  then.  Here  I  am  called 
Margaret  Henson,  and  nobody  knows.  And  now  you 
have  found  out.  Do  you  come  here  to  blackmail  and 
rob  me  like  the  rest  ?  " 

"  I  come  here  entirely  on  your  behalf  and  my  own, 
my  lady." 

"  That  is  what  they  all  say — and  then  they  rob  me. 
You  stole  the  Rembrandt." 

The  last  words  came  like  a  shot  from  a  catapult. 
Enid's  face  grew  colder.  Bell  drew  a  long  tube  of  dis- 
coloured paper  carefully  tied  round  a  stick  from  his 
pocket. 

"  I  am  going  to  disprove  that  once  and  for  all,"  he 
said.  "  The  Rembrandt  is  at  present  in  Lord  Littimer's 
collection.  There  is  an  account  of  it  in  to-day's  Tele- 
graph.  It  is  perfectly  famihar  to  both  of  you.  And, 
that  being  the  case,  what  do  you  think  of  this  ?  " 

He  unrolled  the  paper  before  Enid's  astonished  eyes. 
Margaret  Henson  glanced  at  it  listlessly ;  she  was  faist 
sinking  into  the  old,  strange  oblivion  again.  But  Enid 
was  all  rapt  attention. 

"  I  would  have  sworn  to  that  as  Lord  Littimer's  own," 
she  gasped. 

"  It  is  his  own,"  Bell  replied.  "  Stolen  from  him  and 
a  copy  placed  by  some  arch-enemy  in  my  portmanteau, 
it  was  certain  to  be  found  on  the  frontier.  Don't  you 
see  that  there  were  two  Rembrandts  ?  When  the  one 
from  my  portmanteau  was  restored  to  Littimer  his  own 
was  kept  by  the  thief.  Subsequently  it  would  be  ex« 
posed  as  a  new  find,  with  some  story  as  to  its  discovery, 
only,  unfortunately  for  the  scoundrel,  it  came  int«  my 
possession." 

"  And  where  did  you  find  it  ?  "  Enid  asked. 

"  I  found  it,"  Bell  said,  slowly,  "  in  a  house  called 
2i8,  Brunswick  Square,  Brighton." 

A  strange  cry  came  from  Enid's  lips.  She  stood 
swaying  before  her  lover,  white  as  the  paper  upon  which 


BEHIND    THE    BLIND.  103 

her  eyes  were  eagerly  fixed.  Margaret  Henson  was 
pacing  up  and  down  the  room,  her  hps  muttering,  and 
raising  a  cloud  of  pallid  dust  behind  her. 

"  I — I  am  sorry,"  Enid  said,  falteringly.  "  And  all 
these  years  I  have  deemed  you  guilty.  But  then  the 
proof  was  so  plain  ;  I  could  not  deny  the  evidence  of 
my  own  senses.  And  Van  Gulden  came  to  me  saying 
how  deeply  distressed  he  was,  and  that  he  would  have 
prevented  the  catastrophe  if  he  could.     Well  ?  " 

A  servant  stood  waiting  in  the  doorway  witli  wonder- 
ing eyes  at  the  sight  of  a  stranger. 

"  I'm  sorry,  miss,"  she  said,  "  but  Miss  Christiana  is 
worse  ;  indeed,  she  quite  frightens  me.  I've  taken  the 
liberty  of  telephoning  to  Dr.  Walker." 

The  words  seemed  to  bring  consciousness  to  Margaret 
Henson. 

"  Christiana  worse,"  she  said.  "  Another  of  them 
going  ;  it  will  be  a  happy  release  from  a  house  of  sorrow 
Gke  this.     I  will  come  up,  Martin." 

She  swept  out  of  the  room  after  the  servant.  Enid 
appeared  hardly  to  have  heard.  Bell  looked  at  her  in- 
quiringly and  with  some  little  displeasure. 

"  I  fancy  I  have  heard  you  speak  of  your  sister  Chris- 
tiana," he  said.     "  Is  she  ill  ?  ' 

"  She  is  at  the  point  of  death,  I  understand  ;  you 
think  that  I  am  callous.  Oh,  if  you  only  knew  !  But 
the  light  will  come  to  us  all  in  time,  God  willing.  Look 
at  this  }ilace,  look  at  the  blight  of  it,  and  wonder  how 
we  endure  it.     Hatherly,  I  have  made  a  discovery." 

"  We  seem  to  be  living  in  an  atmosphere  of  discoveries. 
What  is  it  ?  " 

"  I  will  answer  your  question  by  asking  another.  You 
have  been  made  the  victim  of  a  vile  conspiracy.  For 
seven  years  your  career  has  been  blighted.  And  I  have 
lost  seven  years  of  my  life,  too.  Have  you  any  idea 
who  your  enemy  is  ?  " 

"  Not  the  faintest,  but,  believe  me,  I  shall  find  out  in 
time.     And  then " 

A  purple  blackness  like  the  lurid  light  of  a  storra 
flashed  into  his  eyes,  thf  lines  of  his  mouth  grew  rigid. 
Enid  laid  a  hand  tenderly  on  his  arm. 


104  THE  CRIMSON    BLIND. 

*'  Your  enemy  is  the  common  enemy  of  us  all,"  sh« 
said.  "  We  have  wasted  the  years,  but  we  are  young 
yet.     Your  enemy  is  Reginald  Henson." 

"  Enid,  you  speak  with  conviction.     Are  you  sure  of 

this  ?  " 

"  Certain.  When  I  have  time  I  will  tell  you  every- 
thing. But  not  now.  And  that  man  must  never  know 
that  you  have  been  near  the  house  to-night,  not  so  much 
for  your  sake  as  for  the  sake  of  your  friend  David  Steel. 
Now  I  can  see  the  Providence  behind  it  all.  Hatherly, 
tell  me  that  you  forgive  me  before  the  others  come  back." 

"  My  darling,  I  cannot  see  how  you  could  have  acted 
otherwise." 

Enid  turned  towards  him  with  a  great  glad  light  in 
her  eyes.  She  said  nothing,  for  the  simple  reason  that 
there  was  nothing  to  say.  Hatherly  Bell  caught  her  in 
his  strong  arms,  and  she  swayed  to  reach  his  lips.  In 
that  dehcious  moment  the  world  was  all  forgot. 

But  not  for  long.  There  was  a  sudden  rush  and  a 
tumble  of  feet  on  the  stairs,  there  was  a  strange  voice 
speaking  hurriedly,  then  the  drawing-room  door  opened 
and  Margaret  Henson  came  in.  She  was  looking  wild 
and  excited  and  talked  incoherently.  An  obviously 
professional  man  followed  her. 

"  My  dear  madam,"  he  was  saying,  "  I  have  done  all 
I  can.  In  the  last  few  days  I  have  not  been  able  to 
disguise  from  myself  that  there  was  small  hope  for  the 
patient.  The  exhaustion,  the  shock  to  the  system,  the 
congestion,  all  point  to  an  early  collapse." 

"  Is  my  sister  so  much  worse,  Dr.  Walker  ?  "  Enid 
asked,  quietly. 

"  She  could  not  be  any  worse  and  be  alive,"  the  doctor 
said.  "  Unless  I  am  greatly  mistaken  the  gentleman 
behind  you  is  Mr.  Hatherly  Bell.  I  presume  he  has 
been  called  in  to  meet  me  ?  If  so,  I  am  sincerely  glad, 
because  I  shall  be  pleased  to  have  a  second  opinion.  A 
bad  case  of  " — here  followed  a  long  technical  name — 
"  one  of  the  worst  cases  I  have  ever  seen." 

"  You  can  command  me,  Enid,"  Bell  said.     "  If  I  can.** 

"  No,  no,"  Enid  cried.  "  What  am  I  sa3'ing  ?  Please 
to  go  upstairs  with  Martin." 


BEHIND    THE   BLIND-  105 

Bell  departed,  wonderingly.  Enid  flew  to  the  doof 
and  out  into  the  night.  She  could  hear  He\ison  cm-sing 
and  shouting,  could  hear  the  snarling  clamour  of  the 
dogs.  At  the  foot  of  the  drive  she  paused  and  called 
Steel  softly  by  name.  To  her  intense  rehef  he  came  from 
the  shadow. 

"  I  am  here,"  he  cried.     "  Do  you  want  me  ?  " 

"  Yes,  yes,"  Enid  panted.  "  Never  more  were  your 
services    needed.      My     sister     is     dying ;     my    sister 

must — die.     And  Hatherly  BeU  is   with  her,   and 

you  understand  ?  " 

"  Yes,"  said  David.  A  vivid  flash  of  understanding 
had  come  to  him.  "  BeU  shall  do  as  I  tell  him.  Come 
along." 

"  Hold  him  up,  dear  doggies,"  Enid  murmured. 
•*  Hold  him  up  and  I'll  love  both  of  you  for  ever." 


CHAPTER   XV* 

A     MEDICAL    OPINION. 

David  Steel  followed  his  guide  with  the  feelings  of  the 
man  who  has  given  himself  over  to  circumstances. 
There  was  a  savour  of  nightmare  about  the  whole  thing 
that  appealed  distinctly  to  his  imagination.  The  dark- 
ness, the  strange  situation,  the  vivid  streaks  of  the 
crimson  blinds — the  crimson  blind  that  seemed  an 
integral  part  of  the  mystery — all  served  to  stimulate 
him.  The  tragic  note  was  deepened  by  the  whine  and 
howling  of  the  dogs. 

"  There  is  a  man  over  there,"  David  whispered. 

"  A  man  who  is  going  to  stay  there,"  Enid  said,  with 
grim  satisfaction.  "  It  is  virtually  necessary  that  Mr. 
Reginald  Henson  should  not  be  disturbed.  The  dogs 
have  a  foolish  weakness  for  his  society.  So  long  as  he 
shows  no  signs  of  boredom  he  is  safe." 

David  smiled  with  a  vague  grasp  of  the  situation. 
Apparently  the  cue  was  to  be  surprised  at  nothing  that 
he  saw  about  the  House  of  the  Silent  Sorrow.  The  name 
of  Reginald  Henson  was  more  or  less  familiar  to  him  as 
that  of  a  man  who  stood  high  in  pul)hc  estimation.  But 
the  bitter  contempt  in  his  companion's  voice  suggested 
that  there  was  another  side  to  the  man's  character. 

"  I  hope  you  are  not  asking  me  to  do  anything  wrong," 
David  murmured. 

"  I  am  absolutely  certain  of  it,"  the  girl  said.  "  It  is 
a  case  of  the  end  justifying  the  means  ;   and  if  ever 


A   MEDICAL  OPINION.  107 

the  end  justified  the  means,  it  does  in  this  case. 
Beside? " 

Enid  Henson  hesitated.  David's  quick  perception 
prompted  him. 

"  Besides,  it  is  my  suggestion,"  he  said.  "  When  I 
had  the  pleasure  of  seeing  you  before " 

"  Pardon  me,  you  have  never  had  the  pleasure  of 
seeing  me  before." 

"  Ah,  you  would  make  an  excellent  Parliamentary 
fencer.  I  bow  to  your  correction  and  admit  that  I  have 
never  seen  you  before.  But  your  voice  reminds  me  of 
a  voice  I  heard  very  recently  under  remarkable  circum- 
stances. It  was  my  good  fortune  to  help  a  lady  in 
distress  a  little  time  back.  If  she  had  told  me  more  I 
might  have  aided  her  still  further.  As  it  is,  her  reticence 
has  landed  me  into  serious  trouble." 

Enid  grasped  the  speaker's  arm  convulsively. 

"  I  am  deeply  sorry  to  hear  it,"  she  whispered.  "  Per- 
haps the  lady  in  question  was  reticent  for  your  sake. 
Perhaps  she  had  confided  more  thoroughly  in  good 
men  before.  And  suppose  those  good  men  had  dis- 
appeared ?  " 

"  In  other  words,  that  they  had  been  murdered. 
Who  by  ?  " 

There  was  a  snarl  from  one  of  the  hounds  hard  by, 
and  a  deep,  angry  curse  from  Henson.  Enid  pointed 
solemnly  in  his  direction.  No  words  of  hers  would  have 
been  so  thrilling  and  eloquent.  David  strode  along 
without  furtlier  questions  on  that  head. 

"  But  there  is  one  thing  that  you  must  tell  me,"  he 
said,  as  they  stood  together  in  the  porch.  "  Is  the  first 
part  of  my  advice  going  to  be  carried  out  ?  " 

"  Yes.  That  is  wtiy  you  are  here  now.  Stay  here 
one  moment  whilst  I  get  you  pencil  and  paper.  .  .  . 
There  !  Now  will  you  please  write  what  I  suggest  ? 
Dr.  Bell  is  with  my  sister.  At  least,  I  suppose  he  is 
with  her,  as  Dr.  Walker  desired  to  have  his  opinion. 
My  sister  is  dying — dying,  you  understand  ?  " 

Enid's  voice  had  sunk  to  a  passionate  whisper.  The 
hand  that  she  laid  on  Duid's  shoulder  wa>  trembling 
Strangely.     At  that  moment  he  would  I.  ▼•  done  any- 


io8  THE  CRIMSON  BLIND. 

thing  for  her.  A  shaft  of  Hght  filtered  from  the  hall 
into  the  porch,  and  lit  up  the  paper  that  the  girl  thrust 
upon  SteeL 

"  Now  write,"  she  commanded.  "  Ask  no  questions, 
but  write  what  I  ask,  and  trust  me  implicitly." 

David  nodded.  After  all,  he  reflected,  he  could  not 
possibly  get  himself  into  a  worse  mess  than  he  was  in 
already.  And  he  felt  that  he  could  trust  the  girl  by  his 
side.  Her  beauty,  her  earnestness,  and  her  obvious 
sincerity  touched  him. 

"  Write,"  Enid  whispered.  "  Say,  '  See  nothing  and 
notice  nothing,  I  implore  you.  Only  agree  with  every- 
thing that  Dr.  Walker  says,  and  leave  the  room  as 
quickly  as  possible  ! '  Now  sign  your  name.  We  can 
go  into  the  drawing-room  and  wait  till  Dr.  Bell  comes 
down.  You  are  merely  a  friend  of  his.  I  will  see  that 
he  has  this  paper  at  once." 

Enid  led  the  way  into  the  drawing-room.  She  gave 
no  reasons  for  the  weird  strangeness  of  the  place,  it  was 
no  time  for  explanations.  As  for  Steel,  he  gazed  around 
him  in  fascinated  astonishment.  A  novelist  ever  on 
the  look-out  for  new  scenes  and  backgrounds,  the  aspect 
of  the  room  fascinated  him.  He  saw  the  dust  rising  in 
clouds,  he  saw  the  wilted  flowers,  he  noted  the  over- 
turned table,  obviously  untouched  and  neglected  for 
years,  and  he  wondered.  Then  he  heard  the  babel  of 
discordant  voices  overhead.  What  a  sad  house  it  was, 
and  how  dominant  was  the  note  of  tragedy. 

Meanwhile,  with  no  suspicion  of  the  path  he  was 
treading.  Bell  had  gone  upstairs.  He  came  at  length 
to  the  door  of  the  room  where  the  sick  girl  lay.  There 
was  a  subdued  light  inside  and  the  faint  suggestion  of 
illness  that  clings  to  the  chamber  of  the  sufferer.  Bell 
caught  a  glimpse  of  a  white  figure  lying  motionless  in 
bed.  It  was  years  now  since  he  had  acted  thus  in  a 
professional  capacity,  but  the  old  quietness  and  caution 
came  back  by  instinct.  As  he  would  have  entered 
Margaret  Henson  came  out  and  closed  the  door. 

"  You  are  not  going  in  there,"  she  said.  "  No,  no. 
Everything  of  mine  you  touch  you  blight  and  wither. 
If  the  girl  is  to  die,  let  her  die  in  peace." 


A  MEDICAL  OPINION.  Z09 

She  would  have  raised  her  voice  high,  but  a  lightning 
glance  from  Bell  quieted  her.  It  was  not  exactly  mad- 
ness that  he  had  to  deal  with,  and  he  knew  it.  The 
woman  required  firm,  quiet  treatment.  Dr.  Walker 
stood  alongside,  anxious  and  nervous.  The  man  with 
the  quiet  practice  of  the  well-to-do  doctor  was  not  used 
to  scenes  of  this  kind. 

"  You  have  something  to  conceal,"  Bell  said,  sternly. 
•'  Open  the  door." 

"  Really,  my  dear  sir,"  Walker  said,  fussily.  "  Really, 
I  fancy  that  under  the  circumstances " 

"  You  don't  understand  this  kind  of  case,"  BeU  in- 
terrupted.    "  I  do." 

Walker  dropped  aside  with  a  muttered  apology.  Bell 
approached  the  figure  in  the  doorway  and  whispered 
a  few  words  rapidly  in  her  ear.  The  effect  was  electrical. 
The  figure  seemed  to  wilt  and  shrivel  up,  all  the  power 
and  resistance  had  gone.  She  stepj^ed  aside,  moaning 
and  wringing  her  hands.  She  babbled  of  strange  things  ; 
the  old,  far-away  look  came  into  her  eyes  again. 

Without  a  word  of  comment  or  sign  of  triumph  Bell 
entered  the  sick  room.  Then  he  raised  his  head  and 
sniffed  the  heavy  atmosphere  as  an  eager  hound  might 
have  done.  A  quick,  sharp  question  rose  to  his  lips, 
©nly  to  be  instantly  suppressed  as  he  noted  the  vacant 
glance  of  his  colleague. 

The  white  figure  on  the  bed  lay  perfectly  motionless. 
It  was  the  figure  of  a  young  and  exceedingly  beautiful 
girl,  a  beauty  heightened  and  accentuated  by  the 
dead  -  white  pallor  of  her  features.  Still  the  face 
looked  resolute  and  the  exquisitely  chiselled  lips  were 
firm. 

"  Albumen,"  Bell  muttered.  "  What  fiend's  game  is 
this  ?  I  wonder  if  that  scoundrel — but,  no.  In  that 
case  there  would  be  no  object  in  concealing  my  presence 
here.     I  wonder " 

He  paused  and  touched  the  pure  white  brow  with 
his  fingers.  At  the  same  moment  Enid  came  into  the 
room.     She  panted  like  one  who  has  run  fast  and  far. 

"  Well,"  she  whispered,  "  is  she  better,  better  or — 
Hathcrly,  read  this.'* 


no  THE  CRIMSON  BLIND. 

The  last  words  were  so  low  that  Bell  hardly  heard 
them.  He  shot  a  swift  glance  at  his  colleague  before 
he  opened  the  paper.  One  look  and  he  had  mastered 
the  contents.  Then  the  swift  glance  was  directed  from 
Walker  to  the  girl  standing  there  looking  at  Bell  with 
a  world  of  passionate  entreaty  and  longing  in  her  eyes. 

"It  is  your  sister  who  lies  there,"  Bell  whispered, 
meaningly,  "  and  yet  you " 

He  paused,  and  Knid  nodded.  There  was  evidently 
a  great  struggle  going  on  in  Bell's  mind.  He  was 
grappling  with  something  that  he  only  partially  under- 
stood, but  he  did  know  perfectly  well  that  he  was  being 
asked  to  do  something  absolutely  wrong  and  that 
he  Wcis  going  to  yield  for  the  sake  of  the  girl  he 
loved. 

He  rose  abruptly  from  the  bedside  and  crossed  over 
to  Walker, 

"  You  are  perfectly  correct,"  he  said.  "  At  this  rate 
— at  this  rate  the  patient  cannot  possibly  last  till  the 
morning.     It  is  quite  hopeless." 

Walker  smiled  feebly. 

"It  is  a  melancholy  satisfaction  to  have  my  opinion 
confirmed,"  he  said.  "  Miss  Henson,  if  you  will  get 
Williams  to  see  me  as  fax  as  the  lodge-gates  ....  it 
is  so  late  that — er " 

Williams  came  at  length,  and  the  little  doctor  de- 
parted. Enid  fairly  cowered  before  the  blazing,  search- 
ing look  that  Bell  turned  upon  her.  She  fell  to  plucking 
the  bedclothes  nervously. 

"  What  does  it  mean  ?  "  he  asked,  hoarsely.  "  What 
fiend's  plaything  are  you  meddling  with  ?  Don't  you 
know  that  if  that  girl  dies  it  will  be  murder  ?  It  was 
only  for  your  sake  that  I  didn't  speak  my  mind  before 
:he  fool  who  has  just  gone.  He  has  seen  murder  done 
under  his  eyes  for  days,  and  he  is  ready  to  give  a  certifi- 
cate of  the  cause  of  death.  And  the  strange  thing  is 
that  in  the  ordinary  way  he  would  be  quite  justified  in 
doing  so." 

"  Chris  is  not  going  to  die  ;  at  least,  not  in  that  way," 
Enid  whispered,  hoarsely. 

"  Then  leave  her  alone.     No  more  drugs  ;  nn  medicine 


A  MEDICAL  OPINION.  Ill 

even.     Give  Nature  a  chance.     Thank  Heaven,  the  girl 
has  a  perfect  constitution." 

"  Chris  is  not  going  to  die,"  Enid  repeated,  doggedly, 
"  but  the  certificate  will  be  given,  all  the  same.  Oh, 
Hatherly,  you  must  trust  me — trust  me  as  you  have 
never  done  before.  Look  at  me,  study  me.  Did 
you  ever  know  me  to  do  a  mean  or  dishonourable 
thing  ?  " 

They  were  down  in  the  drawing-room  again  ;  David 
waiting,  with  a  strange  sense  of  embarrassment  under 
Margaret  Henson's  distant  eyes  ;  indeed,  it  was  pro- 
bable that  she  had  never  noticed  him  at  all.  All  the 
same  she  turned  eagerly  to  Bell. 

"  Tell  me  the  worst,"  she  cried.  "  Tell  me  all  there 
is  to  know." 

"  Your  niece's  sufferings  are  over,"  Bell  said,  gravely  ; 
"  I  have  no  more  to  tell  you." 

A  profound  silence  followed,  broken  presently  by 
angry  voices  outside.  Tlicn  Williams  looked  in  at  the 
door  and  beckoned  Enid  to  him.  His  face  was  wreathed 
in  an  uneasy  grin. 

"  Mr.  Henson  has  got  away,"  he  said.  "  Blest  if  I 
can  say  how.  And  they  dogs  have  rolled  him  about, 
and  tore  his  clothes,  and  made  such  a  picture  of  him 
as  you  never  saw.     And  a  sweet  temper  he's  in  !  " 

"  Where  is  he  now  ?  "  Enid  asked.  "  There  are  people 
here  he  must  not  see." 

"  Well,  he  came  back  in  through  the  study  window, 
swearing  dreadful  for  so  respectable  a  gentleman.  And 
he  went  right  up  to  his  room,  after  ordering  whisky  and 
Boda-water." 

Enid  flew  back  to  the  drawing-room.  Not  a  moment 
was  to  be  lost.  At  any  hazard  Reginald  Henson  must 
be  kept  in  ignorance  of  the  presence  of  stiangers.  A 
minute  later,  and  the  darkness  of  the  night  had  swallowed 
them  up.  Willi.Tms  fastened  the  lodge-gates  behind 
them,  and  they  turned  their  faces  in  the  direction  of 
Rottingdean  Road. 

"  A  strange  niglit's  work,"  David  said,  presently. 

"  Aye,  but  pregnant  with  result,"  Bell  answered. 
There  was  a  stern,  exulting  ring  in  his  voice.     "  There 


iia  THE  CRIMSON  BLIND. 

is  much  to  do  and  much  danger  to  be  faced,  but  we  are 
on  the  right  track  at  last.  But  why  did  you  send  mo 
that  note  just  now  ?  " 

David  smiled  as  he  lighted  a  cigarette. 

"  It  is  part  of  the  scheme,"  he  said.  "  Part  of  my 
scheme,  you  understand.  But,  principally,  I  sent  you 
the  note  because  Miss  Enid  asked  me  tOb" 


CHAPTER   XVI. 

MARGARET     SEES     A     GHOST. 

With  a  sigh  of  unutterable  relief  Enid  heard  Williann 
returning.  Reginald  Henson  had  not  come  down  yet, 
and  the  rest  of  the  servants  had  retired  some  time. 
Williams  came  up  with  a  request  as  to  whether  he  could 
do  anything  more  before  he  went  to  bed. 

"  Just  one  thing,"  said  Enid.  "  The  good  dogs  have 
done  their  work  well  to-night,  but  they  have  not  quite 
finished.  Find  Rollo  for  me,  and  bring  him  here  quick. 
Then  you  can  shut  up  the  house,  and  I  will  see  that 
Mr.  Henson  is  made  comfortable  after  his  fright." 

The  big  dog  came  presently  and  followed  Enid  timidly 
upstairs.  Apparently  the  great  black-muzzled  brute 
had  been  there  before,  as  evidently  he  knew  he  was 
doing  wrong.  He  crawled  along  the  corridor  till  he 
came  to  the  room  where  the  sick  girl  lay,  and  here  he 
followed  Enid.  The  lamp  was  turned  down  low  as  Enid 
glanced  at  the  bed.  Then  she  smiled  faintly,  yet  hojxj- 
fully. 

There  was  nobody  in  the  room.  The  patient's  bed 
was  empty  ! 

"  It  works  well,"  Enid  murmured.  "  May  it  go  on 
«s  it  has  been  started.  Lie  down,  Rollo  ;  lie  there, 
good  dog.     And  if  anybody  comes  in  tear  him  to  pieces." 

The  great  bnite  crouchf^d  down  obediently,  tliuinping 
his  tail  on  the  floor  as  an  indication  that  he  imderstood. 
As  if  a  load  had  been  taken  from  her  mind  Enid  crept 

IZ3  H 


114  THE  CRIMSON    BLINl 

down  the  stairs.  She  had  hardly  reached  the  hall  bcfort 
Henson  followed  her.  His  big  face  was  white  with 
passion  ;  he  was  trembling  from  head  to  foot  from 
fright  and  pain.  There  was  a  red  rash  on  his  forehead 
that  by  no  means  tended  to  improve  his  appearance. 

"  What  is  the  meaning  of  this  ? "  he  demanded, 
hoarsely. 

Enid  looked  at  him  coolly.  She  could  afford  to  do 
so  now.  All  the  danger  was  past,  and  she  felt  certain 
that  the  events  of  the  evening  were  unknown  to  him. 

"  I  might  ask  you  the  same  question,"  she  said.  "  You 
look  white  and  shaken  ;  you  might  have  been  thrown 
violently  into  a  heap  of  stones.  But  please  don't  make 
a  noise.     It  is  not  fitting  now.     Chris " 

Enid  hesitated ;  the  prevarication  did  not  come  so 
easily  as  she  had  expected. 

"  Chris  has  gone,"  she  said.  "  She  passed  away  an 
hour  ago." 

Henson  muttered  something  that  sounded  like  conso- 
lation. He  could  be  polite  and  suave  enough  om  occa- 
sions, but  not  to-night.  Even  philanthropists  are  selfish 
at  times.  Moreover,  his  nerves  were  badly  skaken  and 
he  wanted  a  stimulant  badly. 

"  I  am  going  to  bed,"  Enid  said,  wearily.  "  Good- 
night." 

She  went  noiselessly  upstairs,  and  Henson  passed  into 
the  library.  He  was  puzzled  over  this  sudden  end  of 
Christiana  Henson.  He  was  half  inclined  to  believe 
that  she  was  not  dead  at  all ;  he  belonged  to  the  class 
of  men  who  believe  nothing  without  proof.  Well,  he 
could  easily  ascertain  that  for  himself.  There  would 
be  quite  time  enough  in  the  morning. 

For  a  long  time  Henson  sat  there  thinking  and  smoking, 
as  was  his  usual  custom.  Like  other  great  men,  he  had 
his  worries  and  troubles,  and  that  they  were  mainly  of 
his  own  making  did  not  render  them  any  lighter.  So 
long  as  Margaret  Henson  was  under  the  pressure  of  his 
thumb,  money  was  no  great  object.  But  there  were 
other  situations  where  money  was  utterly  powerless. 

Henson  was  al>out  to  give  it  up  as  a  bad  job,  for  to- 
night  at   any   rate.     He   wondered   bitterly   what   his 


MARGARET  SEES  A  GHOST.  115 

admirers  would  say  if  they  knew  everything.  He 
wondered — what  was  that  ? 

Somebody  creeping  about  the  house,  somebody  talking 
in  soft,  though  distinct,  whispers.  His  quick  ears  de- 
tected that  sound  instantly.  He  slipped  into  the  hall  ; 
Margaret  Henson  was  there,  with  the  remains  of  what 
had  once  been  a  magnificent  opera-cloak  over  her 
shoulders. 

"  How  you  startled  me !  "  Henson  said,  irritably. 
"  Why  don't  you  go  to  bed  ?  " 

Enid,  looking  over  the  balustrade  from  the  landing, 
wondered  so  also,  but  she  kept  herself  prudently  hidden. 
The  first  words  that  she  heaxd  drove  all  the  blood  from 
her  heart. 

"  I  cannot,"  the  feeble,  moaning  voice  said.  "  The 
house  is  full  of  ghosts ;  they  haunt  and  follow  me 
everywhere.  And  Chris  is  dead,  and  I  have  seen  her 
spirit." 

"  So  I'm  told,"  Henson  said,  with  brutal  callousness. 
"  What  was  the  ghost  like  ?  " 

"  Like  Chris.  All  pale  and  white,  with  a  frightened 
look  on  her  face.  And  she  was  all  dressed  in  white, 
too,  with  a  cloak  about  her  shoulders.  And  just  when 
I  was  going  to  speak  to  her  she  turned  and  disappeared 
into  Enid's  bedroom.     And  there  are  other  ghosts " 

"  One  at  a  time,  please,"  Henson  said,  grimly.  "  So 
Christiana's  ghost  passed  into  her  sister's  bedroom. 
You  come  and  sit  quietly  in  the  library  whilst  I  in- 
vestigate matters." 

Margaret  Henson  complied  in  her  dull,  mechanical 
way,  and  Enid  flew  like  a  flash  of  light  to  her  room. 
Another  girl  was  there — a  girl  exceedingly  like  her,  but 
looking  wonderfully  pale  and  drawn. 

"  That  fiend  suspects,"  Enid  said,  "  How  unfor- 
tunate it  was  tliat  you  should  meet  aunt  like  that. 
Chris,  you  must  go  back  again.  Fly  to  your  own  room 
and  compose  yourself.  Only  let  liim  see  you  lying 
white  and  still  there,  and  he  must  be  satisfied." 

Chris  rose  with  a  shudder. 

"  And  if  the  wretch  offers  to  touch  me,"  she  moaned. 
"  H  he  does " 


ii6  THE  CRIMSON  BLIND. 

"  He  will  not.  He  dare  not.  Heaven  help  him  if  h« 
tries  any  experiment  of  that  kind.  If  he  does,  Rollo 
will  kill  him  to  a  certainty." 

"  Ah,  I  had  forgotten  the  faithful  dog.  Those  dog* 
are  more  useful  to  us  than  a  score  of  men.  I  will  step 
by  the  back  way  and  through  my  dressing-room.  Oh, 
Enid,  how  glad  I  shall  be  to  find  myself  outside  the 
walls  of  this  dreadful  house  !  " 

She  flew  along  the  corridor  and  gained  Ler  room  in 
safety.  It  was  an  instant's  work  to  throw  off  her  cloak 
and  compose  herself  rigidly  under  the  single  white  sheet. 
But  though  she  lay  still  her  heart  was  beating  to  suffo- 
cation as  she  heard  the  creak  and  thud  of  a  heavy  step 
coming  up  the  stairs.  Then  the  door  was  opened  in  a 
stealthy  way  and  Henson  came  in.  He  could  see  the 
outline  of  the  white  figure,  and  a  sigh  of  satisfaction 
escaped  him.  A  less  suspicious  man  would  have 
retired  at  once ;  a  man  less  engaged  upon  his  task 
would  have  seen  two  great  amber  eyes  close  to  the 
floor. 

"  An  old  woman's  fancy,"  he  muttered.  "  Still,  as  I 
am  here,  I'll  make  sure  that " 

He  stretched  out  his  hand  to  touch  the  marble  fore- 
head, there  was  a  snarl  and  a  gurgle,  and  Henson  came 
to  the  ground  with  a  hideous  crash  that  carried  hira 
staggering  beyond  the  door  into  the  corridor.  Rollo 
had  the  intruder  by  the  throat ;  a  thousand  crimson 
and  blue  stars  danced  before  the  wretched  man's  eyes  ; 
he  grappled  with  his  foe  with  one  last  despairing  effort, 
and  then  ther«!  came  over  him  a  vague,  warm  uncon- 
sciousness. When  he  came  to  himself  he  was  lying  on 
his  bed,  with  Williams  and  Enid  bending  over  him. 

"  How  did  it  happen  ?  "  Enid  asked,  with  simulated 
anxiety. 

•*  I — I  was  walking  along  the  corridor,"  Henson 
gasped,  "  going — going  to  bed,  you  see  ;  and  one  of 
those  diabolical  dogs  must  have  got  into  the  house. 
Before  I  knew  what  I  was  doing  the  creature  flew  at 
my  throat  and  dragged  me'to  the  floor.  Telephone  for 
Walker  at  once.     I  am  dying,  Williams." 

He  fell  back  once  more  utterly  lost  to  his  surround- 


"  Rollo  had  the  intruder  bv  the  throat." 


-  Pti^f  1 16. 


Tht  Crimion  Blind. 


MARGARET  SEES  A  GHOST.  117 

ings.  There  was  a  great,  gaping,  raw  wound  at  the  side 
of  the  throat  that  caused  Enid  to  shudder. 

"  Do  you  think  he  is — dead,  Wilhams  ?  "  she  asked. 

"  No  such  luck  as  that,"  Wilhams  said,  with  the  air 

of  a  conhrmed  pessimist.     "  I   hope  you  locked  that 

there  bedroom  door  and  put  the  key  in  your  pocket, 

miss.     I  suppose  we'd  better  send  for  the  doctor,  unless 

you  and  me  puts  him  out  of  his  misery.     There's  one 

comfort,  however,  Mr.  Henson  will  be  in  bed  for  the 

next  fortnight,  at  any  rate,  so  he'll  be  powerless  to  do 

any  prying  about  the  house.     The  funeral  will  be  over 

long  before  he's  about  again." 

*  *  *  *  • 

The  first  grey  streaks  of  dawn  were  in  the  air  as  Enid 
stood  outside  the  lodge-gates.  She  was  not  alone,  for 
a  neat  figure  in  grey,  mar\'ellously  like  her,  was  by  her 
side.  The  figure  in  grey  was  dressed  for  travelling  and 
she  carried  a  bag  in  her  hand. 

"  Good-bye,  dear,  and  good  luck  to  you,"  she  said. 
"  It  is  dangerous  to  delay." 

"  You  have  absolutely  everything  that  you  require  ?  " 
Enid  asked. 

"  Everything.  By  the  time  you  are  at  breakfast  I 
shall  be  in  London.  And  once  I  am  there  the  search 
for  the  secret  will  begin  in  earnest." 

"  You  are  sure  that  Reginald  Henson  suspected 
nothing  ?  " 

"  I  am  perfectly  certain  that  he  was  satisfied  ;  indeed, 
I  heard  him  say  so.  Still,  if  it  had  not  been  for  the 
dogs  !  We  are  going  to  succeed,  Enid,  something  at 
my  heart  tells  me  so.  See  how  the  sun  shines  on  your 
face  and  in  your  dear  eyes.  Au  revoir,  an  omen — an 
tmen  of  a  glorious  future." 


CHAPTER   XVII. 

THE     PACE     SLACKENS. 

Steel  lay  sleepily  back  in  the  cab,  not  quite  sure  whether 
his  cigarette  was  alight  or  not.  They  were  well  into 
the  main  road  again  before  Bell  spoke. 

"  It  is  pretty  evident  that  you  and  I  are  on  the  same 
track,"  he  said. 

"  I  am  certain  that  I  am  on  the  right  one,"  David 
replied ;  "  but,  when  I  come  to  consider  the  thing 
calmly,  it  seems  more  by  good  luck  than  anything  else. 
I  came  out  with  you  to-night  seeking  adventure,  and 
I  am  bound  to  admit  that  I  found  it.  Also,  I  found  the 
lady  who  interviewed  me  in  the  darkness,  which  is  more 
to  the  point." 

"  As  a  matter  of  fact,  you  did  nothing  of  the  kind," 
said  Bell,  with  the  suggestion  of  a  laugh. 

"  Oh  !  Case  of  the  wrong  room  over  again.  I  was 
ready  to  swear  it.  Whom  did  I  si)eak  to  ?  Whose 
voice  was  it  that  was  so  very  much  like  hers  ?  " 

"  The  lady's  sister.  Enid  Henson  was  not  at  218, 
Brunswick  Square,  on  the  night  in  question.  Of  tliat 
you  may  be  certain.  But  it's  a  queer  business  altogetlicr. 
Rascahty  I  can  understand.  I  am  beginning  to  com- 
prehend the  plot  of  which  I  am  the  victim.  But  I  don't 
mind  admitting  that  up  to  the  present  I  fail  to  com- 
prehend why  those  girls  evolved  the  grotesque  scheme 
for  getting  assistance  at  your  hands.  The  whole  thing 
savours  of  madness." 

lit 


THE  PACE  SLACKENS.  119 

"  I  don't  think  so,"  David  said,  thoughtfully.  "  The 
girls  are  romantic  as  well  as  clever.  They  are  bound 
together  by  the  common  ties  of  a  common  enmity  to- 
wards a  cunning  and  utterly  unscrupulous  scoundrel. 
By  the  merest  accident  in  the  world  they  discovered 
that  I  am  in  a  position  to  afford  them  valuable  advice 
and  assistance.  At  the  same  time  they  don't  want  me 
to  be  brought  into  the  business,  for  two  reasons — the 
first,  because  the  family  secret  is  a  sacred  one  ;  the 
second,  because  any  disclosures  would  land  me  in  great 
physical  danger.  Therefore  they  put  their  heads 
together  and  evolve  this  scheme.  Call  it  a  mad  venture 
if  you  like,  but  if  you  consider  the  history  of  your  own 
country  you  can  find  wilder  schemes  evolved  and  carried 
out  by  men  who  have  had  brains  enough  to  be  trusted 
with  the  fortunes  of  the  nation.  If  these  girls  had  been 
less  considerate  for  my  safety " 

"  But,"  BeU  broke  in  eagerly,  "  they  failed  in  that 
respect  at  the  very  outset.  You  must  have  been  spotted 
instantly  by  the  foe,  who  has  cunningly  placed  you  in  a 
dangerous  position,  perhaps  as  a  warning  to  mind  your 
own  business  in  future.  And  if  those  girls  come  forward 
to  save  you — and  to  do  so  they  must  appear  in  public, 
mind  you — they  are  bound  to  give  away  the  whole  thing. 
Mark  the  beautiful  cunning  of  it.  My  word,  we  have  a 
foe  worthy  of  our  steel  to  meet." 

"  We  7  Do  you  mean  to  say  that  your  enemy  and 
mine  is  a  common  one  ?  " 

"  Certainly.     When  I  found  my  foe  I  found  yours." 

"  And  who  may  he  be,  by  the  same  token  ?  " 

"  Reginald  Henson.  Mind  you,  I  had  no  more  idea 
of  it  than  the  dead  when  I  went  to  Longdean  Grange 
to-night.  I  went  there  because  I  had  begun  to  suspect 
who  occupied  the  place  and  to  try  and  ascertain  how 
the  Rembrandt  engraving  got  into  218,  Brunswick 
Square.  Miss  Gates  must  have  heard  us  talking  over 
the  matter,  and  that  was  why  she  went  to  Longdean 
Grange  to-night." 

"  I  hof)C  she  got  home  safe,"  said  David.  "  The  cab- 
man says  be  put  her  down  oj>pnsite  the  Lawns." 

"  I   hope  so.     Well,    I   found  out  who   the   foe  was. 


120  THE  CRIMSON   BLIND. 

And  I  have  a  pretty  good  idea  why  he  played  that  trick 
upon  me.  He  knew  that  Enid  Henson  and  myself  were 
engaged  ;  he  could  see  what  a  danger  to  his  schemes 
it  would  be  to  have  a  man  like  myself  in  the  family. 
Then  the  second  Rembrandt  turned  up,  and  there  was 
his  chance  for  wiping  me  off  the  slate.  After  that  came 
the  terrible  family  scandal  between  Lord  Littimer  and 
his  wife.  I  cannot  tell  you  anything  of  that,  because 
I  cannot  speak  with  definite  authority.  But  you  could 
judge  of  the  effect  of  it  on  Lady  Littimer  to-night." 

"  I  haven't  the  faintest  recollection  of  seeing  Lady 
Littimer  to-night." 

"  My  dear  fellow,  the  poor  lady  whom  you  met  as 
Mrs.  Henson  is  really  Lady  Littimer.  Henson  is  her 
maiden  name,  and  those  girls  are  her  neices.  Trouble 
has  turned  the  poor  woman's  brain.  And  at  the  bottom 
of  the  whole  mystery  is  Reginald  Henson,  who  is  not 
only  nephew  on  his  mother's  side,  but  is  also  next  heir 
but  one  to  the  Littimer  title.  At  the  present  moment 
he  is  blackmailing  that  unliappy  creature,  and  is 
manoeuvring  to  get  the  whole  of  her  large  fortune  in 
kis  hands.  Reginald  Henson  is  the  man  those  girls 
want  to  circumvent,  and  for  that  reason  tliey  came  to 
you.  And  Henson  has  found  it  out  to  a  certain  extent 
and  placed  you  in  an  awkward  position." 

"  Witness  my  involuntary  guest  and  the  notes  and 
the  cigar-case,"  David  said.  "  But  does  he  know  what 
I  advised  one  of  the  girls — my  princess  of  the  dark  room 
—to  do  ?  " 

"  I  don't  fancy  he  does.  You  see,  that  advice  was 
conveyed  by  word  of  mouth.  The  girls  dared  not  trust 
themselves  to  correspondence,  otherwise  they  m"'ght 
have  approached  you  in  a  more  prosaic  manner.  But 
I  confess  you  startled  me  to-night." 

"  Wliat  do  you  mean  by  that  ?  " 

"  When  you  sent  me  that  note.  What  you  \nrtually 
asked  me  to  do  was  to  countenance  murder.  When  I 
went  into  the  sick  room  I  saw  that  Christiana  Henson 
was  dying.  The  first  idea  that  5ashed  across  my  mind 
was  that  Reginald  Henson  was  getting  the  girl  out  of 
the  way  for  his  own  purposes.     My  dear  fellow,  th« 


THE  PACE  SLACKENS.  lai 

whole  atmosphere  literally  spoke  of  albumen.  Walker 
must  have  heen  blind  not  to  see  how  he  was  being  de- 
ceived. I  was  about  to  give  him  my  opinion  pretty 
plainly  when  your  note  came  up  to  me.  And  there 
was  Enid,  with  her  whole  soul  in  her  large  eyes,  pleading 
for  my  silence.  If  the  girl  died  I  was  accessory  after 
and  before  the  fact.  You  will  admit  that  tiiat  was  a 
pretty  tight  place  to  put  a  doctor  in." 

"  That's  because  you  didn't  know  the  facts  of  the 
case,  my  dear  Bell." 

"  Then  perhaps  you'll  be  so  good  as  to  enlighten  me," 
Bell  said,  drily. 

"  Certainly.  That  was  part  of  my  scheme.  In  that 
synopsis  of  the  story  obtained  by  the  girls  by  some 
more  or  less  mechanical  means,  the  reputed  death  of 
a  patient  forms  the  crux  of  the  tale.  The  idea  occurred 
to  me  after  reading  a  charge  against  a  medical  student 
some  time  ago  in  the  Standard.  The  man  wanted  to 
get  himself  out  of  the  way ;  he  wanted  to  be  considered 
as  dead,  in  fact.  By  the  artful  use  of  albumen  in  certain 
doses  he  produced  symptoms  of  disease  which  will  be 
quite  familiar  to  you.  He  made  himself  so  ill  that  his 
doctor  naturally  concluded  that  he  was  dying.  As  a 
matter  of  fact,  he  was  dying.  Had  he  gone  on  in  the 
same  way  another  day  he  would  have  been  dead.  In- 
stead of  this  he  drops  the  dosing  and,  going  to  his  doctor 
in  disguise,  says  that  he  is  dead.  He  gets  a  certificate 
of  his  own  demise,  and  there  you  are.  I  am  not  telling 
you  fiction,  but  hard  fact  recorded  in  a  high-class  paper. 
The  doctor  gave  the  certificate  without  viewing  the 
body.  Well,  it  struck  mc  that  we  had  here  the  making 
of  a  good  story,  and  I  vaguely  outlined  it  for  a  certain 
editor.  In  my  synopsis  I  suggested  that  it  was  a  woman 
who  proposed  to  pretend  to  die  thus  so  as  to  lull  the 
suspicions  of  a  villain  to  sleep,  and  thus  possess  herself 
of  certain  vital  documents.  My  synoj)sis  falls  into 
certain  hands.  The  owner  of  those  hands  asks  me 
how  the  thing  was  done.  I  tell  her.  In  other  words, 
the  so-called  murder  that  you  imagined  you  had  dis- 
covered to-ni^ht  was  the  result  of  design.  Walker  will 
^ive  his  certiticate,  Keginald  Ilenson  will  regard  Mis3 


xaa  THE  CRIMSON  BLIND. 

Christiana  as  dead  and  buried,  and  she  will  be  free  to 

act  for  the  honour  of  the  family." 

"  But  they  might  have  employed  somebody  else." 

"  Who  would  have  had  to  be  told  the  history  of  the 
family  dishonour.  So  far  I  fancy  I  have  made  the 
ground  quite  clear.  But  the  mystery  of  the  cigar-case 
and  the  notes  and  the  poor  fellow  in  the  hospital  is  still 
as  much  a  mystery  as  ever.  We  are  like  two  allied  force* 
working  together,  but  at  the  same  time  under  the  dis- 
advantage of  working  in  the  dark.  You  can  see,  of 
course,  that  the  awful  danger  I  stand  in  is  as  terrible 
for  those  poor  girls." 

"  Of  course  I  do.  Still,  we  have  a  key  to  your  trouble. 
It  is  a  dreadfully  rusty  one  and  will  want  a  deal  of  oiling 
before  it's  used,  but  there  it  is." 

"  Where,  my  dear  fellow,  where  ?  "  David  asked. 

"  Why,  in  the  Sussex  County  Hospital,  of  course. 
The  man  may  die,  in  which  case  everytliing  must  be 
sacrificed  in  order  to  save  your  good  name.  On  the 
other  hand,  he  may  get  better,  and  then  he  will  tell  us 
all  about  it." 

"  He  might.  On  the  other  hand,  he  might  plead 
ignorance.  It  is  possible  for  him  to  suggest  that  the 
whole  affair  was  merely  a  coincidence,  so  far  as  he  was 
concerned." 

"  Yes,  but  he  would  have  to  explain  how  he  burgled 
your  house,  and  what  business  he  had  to  get  himself 
half  murdered  in  your  conservatory.  Let  us  get  out 
here  and  walk  the  rest  of  the  way  to  your  house.  Our 
cabby  knows  quite  enough  about  us  without  having 
definite  views  as  to  your  address." 

The  cabman  was  dismissed  with  a  handsome  douceur, 
and  the  twain  turned  off  the  front  at  the  corner  of 
Eastern  Terrace.  Late  as  it  was,  there  were  a  few 
people  lounging  under  the  hospital  wall,  where  there 
was  a  suggestion  of  activity  about  the  building  unusual 
at  that  time  of  the  night.  A  rough-looking  fellow, 
who  seemed  to  have  followed  Bell  and  Steel  from  the 
front,  dropj)cd  into  a  seat  by  the  h()Sj)ital  gates  and  laid 
his  head  l)ack  as  if  utterly  worn  out.  Just  inside  tht 
gates  a  man  was  smoking  a  cigarette. 


THE  PACE   SLACKENS.  123 

•*  Halloa,  Cross,"  David  cried,  "  you  are  out  late  to- 
night !  " 

"  Heavy  nicht,"  Cioss  responded,  sleepily,  "  with  half 
a  score  of  accidents  to  finish  with.  Some  of  Palmer  of 
Lingfioid's  private  patients  thrown  off  a  coach  and 
brought  here  in  the  ambulance.  Unless  I  ara  greatly 
mistaken,  that  is  Hatherly  Bell  with  you." 

"  Tlie  same,"  Bell  said,  cheerfully.  "  I  recollect  you 
in  Edinburgh.  So  some  of  Palmer's  patients  have  come 
to  grief.  Alost  of  his  special  cases  used  to  pass  through 
my  hands." 

"  Pve  got  one  here  to-night  who  recollects  you  per- 
fectly well,"  said  Cross.  "  He's  got  a  dislocated  shoulder, 
but  otherwise  he  is  doing  well.  Got  a  mania  that  he's  a 
doctor  who  murdered  a  patient." 

"  Electric  light  anything  to  do  with  the  story  ?  "  Bell 
asked,  eagerly. 

"  That's  the  man.  Seems  to  have  a  wonderfully 
brilliant  intellect  if  you  can  only  keep  him  off  that  topic. 
He  spotted  you  in  North  Street  yesterday,  and  seemed 
wonderfully  disappointed  to  find  you  had  nothing  what- 
ever to  do  with  this  institution." 

"  H  he  is  not  asleep,"  Bell  suggested,  "  and  you  have 
no  objection " 

Cross  nodded  and  opened  the  gate.  Before  [)assing 
inside  Bell  took  the  roUed-up  Rembrandt  from  his  deep 
breast-pocket  and  handed  it  to  David. 

"  Take  care  of  this  for  me,"  he  whispered.  "  Pm 
going  inside.  Pve  dropped  upon  an  old  case  that  in- 
terested me  very  much  years  ago,  and  Pd  like  to  see 
my  patient  again.  S^e  you  in  the  morning,  I  expect. 
Good-night." 

David  nodded  in  reply  and  went  his  way.  It  was 
intensely  quiet  and  still  now  ;  the  weary  loafer  at  the 
outside  hospital  seat  had  disappeared.  There  was  no- 
body to  be  seen  anywhere  as  David  placed  his  key  in 
the  latch  and  opened  the  door.  Inside  the  hall-light 
was  burning,  and  so  was  the  shaded  electric  lamp  in 
the  conservatory.  The  study  leading  to  the  conserva- 
tory was  in  darkness.  The  effect  of  the  light  beliind 
was  artiitic  and  pleasing. 


124  THE  CRIMSON  BLIND. 

It  was  with  a  sense  of  comfort  and  relief  that  David 
fastened  the  door  behind  him.  Without  putting  up  the 
hght  in  the  study  David  laid  the  Rembrandt  on  his 
table,  which  was  immediately  below  the  window  in  his 
work-room.  The  night  was  hot ;  he  pushed  the  top 
sash  down  liberally. 

"  I  must  get  that  transparency  removed,"  he  mur- 
mured, "  and  have  the  window  filled  with  stained  glass. 
The  stuff  is  artistic,  but  it  is  so  frankly  what  it  assumes 
to  ba." 


CHAPTER   XVIIL 

A  COMMON   ENEMY. 

David  idly  mixed  himself  some  whisky  and  soda  water 
in  the  dining-room,  where  he  finished  his  cigarette.  He 
was  tired  and  ready  for  bed  now,  so  tired  that  he  could 
hardly  find  energy  enough  to  remove  his  boots  and  get 
into  the  big  carpet  slippers  that  were  so  old  and  worn. 
He  put  down  the  dining-room  lights  and  strolled  into 
the  study.  Just  for  a  moment  he  sat  there  contem- 
plating with  pleased,  tired  eyes  the  wilderness  of  bloom 
before  him. 

Then  he  fell  into  a  reverie,  as  he  frequently  did.  An 
idea  for  a  fascinating  story  crept  unbidden  into  his  mind. 
He  gazed  vaguely  around  him.  Some  little  noise  outside 
attracted  his  attention,  the  kind  of  noise  made  by  a 
sweep's  brushes  up  a  chimney.  David  turned  idly 
towards  the  open  window.  The  top  of  it  was  but 
faintly  illummated  by  the  light  of  the  conservatory 
gleaming  dully  on  the  transparency  over  the  glass. 
But  David's  eyes  were  keen,  and  he  could  see  distinctly 
a  man's  thumb  crooked  downwards  over  the  frame  of 
the  ash.  Somebody  had  swarmed  up  the  telephone 
holdfasts  and  was  getting  in  through  the  window.  Steel 
slipped  well  into  the  shadow,  but  not  before  an  idea 
liad  come  to  him.  He  removed  tlic  rolled-up  ReinbrandL 
frotti  the  table  and  slipped  it  behind  a  row  of  books  in 
the  book-case.  Then  he  looked  up  again  ^t  the  crooked 
thumb. 


126  THE  CRIMSON    BLIND. 

He  would  recognise  that  thumb  again  anywhere.  It 
was  flat  like  the  head  of  a  snake,  and  the  nail  was  no 
larger  than  a  })ea — a  thumb  that  had  evidintly  been 
cruelly  smashed  at  one  time.  The  owner  of  the  thumb 
might  have  been  a  common  burglar,  but  in  the  light 
of  recent  events  David  was  not  inclined  to  think  so. 
At  any  rate  he  felt  disposed  to  give  his  theory  every 
chance.  He  saw  a  long,  fustian-clad  arm  follow  the 
scarred  thumb,  and  a  hand  grope  all  over  the  table. 

"  Curse  me,"  a  foggy  voice  whispered,  hoarsely.  "  It 
ain't  here.     And  the  bloke  told  me " 

The  voice  said  no  more,  for  David  grabbed  at  the 
arm  and  caught  the  wnrist  in  a  vice-like  grip.  Instantly 
another  arm  shot  over  the  window  and  an  ugly  piece 
of  iron  piping  was  swamg  perilously  near  Steel's  head. 
Unfortunately,  he  could  see  no  face.  As  he  jumped 
back  to  avoid  a  blow  his  grasp  relaxed,  there  was  a 
dull  thud  outside,  followed  by  the  tearing  scratch  of 
boots  against  a  wall  and  the  hollow  clatter  of  flying 
feet.  All  David  could  do  was  to  close  the  window  and 
regret  that  his  impetuosity  had  not  been  more  judiciously 
restrained. 

"  Now,  what  particular  thing  was  he  after  ?  "  he  asked 
himself.  "  But  I  had  better  defer  any  further  specula- 
tions on  the  matter  till  the  morning.  After  tlie  fright 
he  had  my  friend  won't  come  back  again.  And  I'm 
just  as  tired  as  a  dog." 

But  there  were  other  things  the  next  day  to  occupy 
David's  attention  besides  the  visit  of  his  nocturnal 
riend.  He  had  found  out  enough  the  j^revious  evening 
to  encourage  him  to  go  farther.  And  surely  Miss  Ruth 
Gates  could  not  refuse  to  give  him  further  infor- 
mation. 

He  started  out  to  call  at  2ig,  Brunswick  Square,  as 
soon  as  he  deemed  it  excusable  to  do  so.  Miss  Gates 
was  out,  the  solemn  butler  said,  but  she  might  be  found 
in  the  square  gardens.  David  came  upon  her  presently 
with  a  book  in  her  lap  and  herself  under  a  shady  tree. 
She  was  not  reading,  her  eyes  were  far  away.  As  she 
gave  David  a  warm  greeting  there  was  a  tender  bloom 
on  her  lovely  face. 


A   COMMON    ENEMY.  127 

"  Oh,  yes,  I  got  home  quite  right,"  she  said-  "  No 
suspicion  was  aroused  at  all.     And  you  ?  " 

"  I  had  a  night  thrilling  enough  for  yellow  covers, 
as  Artemus  Ward  says.  I  came  here  this  morning  to 
throw  myself  on  your  mercy,  Miss  Gates.  Were  I  dis- 
posed to  do  so,  I  have  information  enough  to  force  your 
hand.  But  I  prefer  to  hear  everything  from  your 
lips." 

"  Did  Enid  tell  you  anything  ?  "  Ruth  faltered. 

"  Well,  she  allowed  me  to  know  a  great  deal.  In  the 
first  place,  1  know  that  you  had  a  great  hand  in  bringing 
me  to  218  the  other  night.  I  know  that  it  was  you  who 
suggested  that  idea,  and  it  was  you  who  facilitated  the 
use  of  Mr.  Gates's  telephone.  How  the  thing  was  stage- 
managed  matters  very  little  at  present.  It  turns  out 
now  that  your  friend  and  Dr.  Bell  and  myself  have  a 
common  enemy." 

Ruth  looked  up  swiftlj'.  There  was  something  like 
fear  in  her  eyes. 

"  Have — have  you  discovered  the  name  of  that 
enemy  ?  "  she  asked. 

"  Yes,  I  know  now  that  our  foe  is  Mr.  Reginald 
Henson." 

"  A  man  who  is  highly  respected.  A  man  who  stands 
wonderfully  high  in  public  estimation.  There  are 
thousands  and  thousands  of  people  who  look  u|K)n 
him  as  a  great  and  estimable  creature.  He  gives  largely 
in  charities,  he  devotes  a  good  deal  of  his  time  to  the 
poor.  My  uncle,  who  is  a  good  man,  if  you  like,  de- 
clares that  Reginald  Henson  is  absolutely  indispensable 
to  him.  At  the  next  election  that  man  is  certain  to  be 
returned  to  Parliament  to  represent  an  important 
northern  constituency.  If  you  told  my  uncle  anything 
about  him,  he  would  laugh  at  you." 

"  I  have  not  the  slightest  intention  of  approaching 
your  uncle  on  this  matter  at  present." 

"  Because  you  could  prove  nothing.  Nobody  can 
prove  anything." 

"  But  Christiana  Henson  may  in  time." 

Once  more  Ruth  flashed  a  startled  look  at  her  com* 
panion. 


128  THE  CRIMSON   BLIND. 

"  So  you  have  discovered  something  about  that  ? " 

she  whispered. 

"  I  have  discovered  everything  about  it.  Legally 
speaking,  the  young  lady  is  dead.  She  died  last  night, 
as  Dr.  Walker  will  testify.  She  passed  away  in  tlie 
formula  i)rcsented  by  me  the  night  that  I  met  her  in 
the  darkiK^ss  at  218,  Brunswick  Square.  Now,  will  you 
be  so  good  as  to  tell  me  how  those  girls  got  hold  of  my 
syno]«is  ?  " 

"  That  came  about  quite  naturally.  Your  synopsis 
and  proof  in  an  open  envelope  were  accidentally  slipped 
into  a  large  circular  envelope  used  by  a  firm  of  seed 
merchants  and  addressed  to  Longdean  Grange,  sent 
out  no  doubt  amongst  thousands  of  others.  Chris  saw 
it,  and,  prompted  by  curiosity,  read  it.  Out  of  that 
our  little  plot  was  gradually  evolved.  You  see,  I  was 
at  school  with  those  two  girls,  and  they  have  few  secrets 
from  me.  Naturally,  I  sug^t  stcd  the  scheme  because 
I  see  a  great  deal  of  Reginald  Henson.  He  comes  here  ; 
he  also  comes  very  frequently  to  our  house  in  Prince's 
Gate.  And  yet  I  am  surry,  from  the  bottom  of  my 
heart,  that  I  ever  touched  the  thing,  for  your  sake." 

The  last  words  were  spoken  with  a  glance  that  set 
David's  pulses  beating.  He  took  Ruth's  half-extended 
hand  in  his,  and  it  was  not  withdrawn. 

"  Don't  worry  about  me,"  he  said.  "  I  shall  come 
out  all  right  in  the  end.  Still,  I  shall  look  eagerly  for- 
ward to  any  assistance  that  you  can  afford  me.  For 
instance,  what  hold  has  Henson  got  on  his  relatives  ?  " 

"  That  I  cannot  tell  you,"  Ruth  cried.  "  You  must 
not  ask  me.  But  we  were  acting  for  the  best ;  our  great 
object  was  to  keep  you  out  of  d  mger." 

"  There  is  no  danger  to  me  if  I  can  only  clear  myself/* 
Steel  rejjlied.  "If  you  could  only  tell  me  where  those 
bank-notes  came  from  !  When  I  think  of  that  part  of 
the  business  I  am  filled  with  shame.     And  yet  if  you 

only  knew  how  fond  I  am  of  my  home At  the 

same  time,  when  I  found  that  I  was  called  upon  to  help 
ladies  in  distress  I  should  have  refused  all  offers  of 
reward.  If  I  had  done  so  I  should  have  had  no  need 
of  your  pity.    And  yet — and  yet  it  is  very  sweet  to  me." 


A  COMMON   ENEMY.  129 

He  pressed  the  hand  in  his,  and  the  pressure  was  re- 
tamed.  David  forget  all  about  his  troubles  for  the 
time  ;  and  it  was  very  cool  and  pleasant  and  quiet  there. 

"  I  am  afraid  that  those  notes  were  forced  upon  us," 
•he  said.  "  Though  I  frankly  believe  that  the  enemy 
does  not  know  what  we  have  learnt  to  do  from  you. 
And  as  to  the  cigar-case  :  would  it  not  be  easy  to  settle 
that  matter  by  asking  a  few  questions  ?  " 

"  My  dear  young  lady,  I  have  done  so.     And  the  more 

?uestions  I  ask  the  worse  it  is  for  me.  The  cigar-case 
claimed  came  from  Walen's,  beyond  all  question,  and 
was  purchased  by  the  mysterious  individual  now  in  the 
hospital.  I  understood  that  the  cigar-case  was  the  very 
one  I  admired  at  Lockhart's  some  time  ago,  and " 

"  If  you  inquire  at  Lockhart's  you  will  find  such  to 
be  the  case." 

David  looked  up  with  a  puzzled  expression.  Ruth 
spoke  so  seriously,  and  with  such  an  air  of  firm  con- 
viction, that  he  was  absolutely  staggered. 

"  So  I  did,"  he  said.  "  And  was  informed  in  the  most 
positive  way  by  the  junior  partner  that  the  case  I  ad- 
mired had  been  purchased  by  an  American  called  Smith 
and  sent  to  the  Metropole  after  he  had  forwarded  dollar- 
notes  for  it.  Surely  you  don't  suppose  that  a  firm  hke 
Lockhart's  would  be  guilty  of  anything " 

Ruth  rose  to  her  feet,  her  face  pale  and  resolute. 

"  This  must  be  looked  to,"  she  said.  "  The  cigar-case 
»cnt  to  you  on  that  particular  night  was  purchased  at 
Lockhart's  by  myself  and  paid  for  with  my  own  money  I  " 


CHAPTER    XIX. 

ROLLO     SHOWS     HIS     TEETH. 

The  blinds  were  all  down  at  Longdean  Grange,  a  new 
desolation  seemed  to  be  added  to  the  gloom  of  the  place. 
Out  in  the  village  it  had  by  some  means  become  known 
that  there  was  somebody  dead  in  the  house,  either 
madam  herself  or  one  of  those  beautiful  young  ladies 
whom  nobody  had  ever  seen.  Children  loitering  about 
the  great  lodge-gates  regarded  Williams  with  resf)cctful 
awe  and  Dr.  Walker  with  curiosity.  The  doctor  was  the 
link  connecting  the  Grange  with  the  outside  world. 

To  add  to  the  gloom  of  it  all  the  bell  over  the  stables 
clanged  mournfully.  The  noise  made  Walker  quite 
ner\'ous  as  he  walked  up  the  drive  by  Wilhams's  side. 
Not  for  a  pension  would  he  have  dared  approach  the 
house  alone.  Williams,  in  the  seediest  and  most  dilapi- 
dated rusty  black,  had  a  face  of  deepest  melancholy. 

"  But   why   that   confound Why   do   they   ring 

that  bell  ?  "  Walker  asked,  irritably. 

"  Madam  ordered  it,  sir,"  Williams  replied.  "  She's 
queerer  than  ever,  is  mistress.  She  don't  say  much, 
but  Miss  Christiana's  death  is  a  great  shock  to  her. 
She  ordered  the  bell  to  be  tolled,  and  she  carried  on 
awful  when  Miss  Enid  tried  to  stop  it." 

Walker  murmured  vaguely  something  doubtless  re- 
presenting sympathy. 

"  And  my  other  patient,  Williams  ?  "  he  asked.  "  How 
is  he  getting  along  ?     Really,  you  ought  to  keep  those 

130 


ROLLO   SHOWS   HIS  TEETH.  131 

dogs  under  better  control.  It's  a  dreadful  business 
altogether.  Fancy  a  man  of  Mr.  Hcnson's  high  character 
and  gentle  disposition  being  attacked  by  a  savage  dog 
in  the  very  house  !  I  hope  the  hound  is  securely  ken- 
nelled." 

"  Well,  he  isn't,  sir,"  Williams  said,  with  just  the  glint 
of  a  grin  on  his  dry  features.  "  And  it  wasn't  altogether 
Rollo's  fault.  That  dog  was  so  devoted  to  Miss  Chris- 
tiana as  you  never  see.  And  he  got  to  know  as  the 
poor  young  lady  was  dying.  So  he  creeps  into  the 
house  and  lies  before  her  bedroom  door,  and  when  Mr, 
Henson  comes  along  the  dog  takes  it  in  his  'ead  as  he 
wants  to  go  in  there.  And  now  Rollo's  got  inside,  and 
nobody  except  Miss  Enid  dare  go  near.  I  pity  that 
there  undertaker  when  he  comes." 

Walker  shuddered  shghtly.  Longdean  Grange  was 
a  fearful  place  for  the  nerves.  Nothing  of  the  routine 
or  the  decorous  ever  happened  there.  The  fees  were 
high  and  the  remuneration  prompt,  or  Walker  would 
have  handed  over  his  patient  cheerfully  to  somebody 
else.  Not  for  a  moment  did  he  imagine  that  Williams 
was  laughing  at  him.  Well,  he  need  not  see  the  body, 
which  was  a  comfort.  With  a  perfectly  easy  conscience 
he  could  give  a  certificate  of  death.  And  if  only  some- 
body would  stop  that  hideous  bell !  Someone  was 
singing  quietly  in  the  drawing-room,  and  the  music 
teemed  to  be  strangely  bizarre  and  out  of  place. 

Inside  it  seemed  like  a  veritable  house  of  the  dead 
— the  shadow  of  tragedy  loomed  everywhere.  The  dust 
rose  in  clouds  from  the  floo^-  as  the  servants  passed  to 
and  fro.  They  were  aU  clad  in  black,  and  shuflled  un- 
ea  ily,  as  if  conscious  \hat  their  clothes  did  not  belong 
to  them.  Enid  came  out  into  the  hall  to  meet  the 
doctor.  Her  face  seemed  terribly  white  and  drawn  ; 
there  was  something  in  her  eyes  that  suggested  anxiety 
more  than  grief. 

"  I  suppose  you  have  come  principally  to  see  Mr. 
Henson  ?  "  she  said.     "  But  my  sister " 

"  No  occasion  to  mtrude  upon  your  grief  for  a  mo- 
ment, Miss  Henson,"  Walker  said,  quietly.  "  As  I  have 
told  you  before,  there  was  very  little  ho]>e  for  your  sister 


1331  THE  CRIMSON  BLIND. 

from  the  first.  It  wa>»  a  melancholy  satisfaction  i«  me 
to  find  my  diagnosis  confirmed  in  every  detail  by  so 
eminent  an  authority  as  Dr.  Hatherly  Bell.  I  will  give 
you  a  certificate  with  pleasure — at  once." 

"  You  would  like  to  see  my  sister  ?  "  Enid  suggested 

The  quivering  anxiety  was  in  her  eyes  again,  the 
strained  look  on  her  face.  Walker  was  discreetly  silent 
as  to  what  he  had  heard  about  that  bloodhound,  but 
he  had  by  no  means  forgotten  it. 

"  Not  the  least  occasion,  I  assure  you,"  he  said, 
fervently.  "  Your  sister  had  practically  passed  away 
when  I  last  saw  her.  There  are  times  when — er — you 
see — but  really  there  is  no  necessity." 

"  Mr.  Henson  is  terribly  fastidious  about  these  things." 

"  Then  he  shall  be  satisfied.  I  shall  tell  him  that  I 
have — er — seen  the  body.  And  I  have,  you  know. 
In  these  matters  a  medical  man  cannot  be  too  careful. 
If  you  will  provide  me  with  pen  and  ink " 

"  Thank  you  very  much.  Will  you  come  this  way, 
please  ?  " 

Walker  followed  into  the  drawing-room.  Mrs.  Henson, 
wearing  something  faded  and  dishevelled  in  the  way  of 
a  mourning  dress,  was  crooning  some  dirge  at  the  piano. 
Her  white  hair  was  streaming  loosely  over  her  shoulders, 
there  was  a  vacant  stare  in  her  eyes.  The  intruders 
might  have  been  statues  for  all  the  heed  she  took  of 
them.  Presently  the  discordant  music  ceased,  and  she 
began  to  pace  noiselessly  up  and  down  the  room, 

"  Another  one  gone,"  she  murmured  ;  "  the  best- 
beloved.  It  is  always  tlie  best-beloved  that  dies,  and 
the  one  we  hate  that  is  left.  Take  all  those  coaches 
away,  send  the  guests  back  home.  Why  do  they  come 
chattering  and  feasting  here  ?  She  shall  be  drawn  by 
four  black  horses  to  Churchfield  in  the  dead  of  tlip 
night,  and  there  laid  in  the  family  vault." 

"  Mrs.  Henson's  residence,"  Enid  explained,  in  a 
whisper.  "  It  is  some  fifteen  miles  away.  She  has 
made  up  her  mind  that  my  sister  shall  be  taken  away 
as  she  says — to-morrow  night.  Is  tliis  paper  all  that 
is  necessary  for  the — you  understand  ?  I  have  tele- 
phoned to  the  undertaker  in  Brighton." 


ROLLO  SHOWS   HIS  TEETH.  133 

Walker  hastened  to  assure  the  girl  that  what  little 
further  formality  was  required  he  would  see  to  himself. 
All  he  desired  now  was  to  visit  Henson  and  get  out  of 
the  house  as  soon  as  possible.  As  he  hurried  from  the 
drawing-room  he  heard  Mrs.  Henson  crooning  and 
muttering,  he  saw  the  vacant  glare  in  her  eyes,  and 
vaguely  wondered  how  soon  he  should  have  another 
patient  here. 

Reginald  Henson  sat  propped  up  in  his  bed,  white 
and  exhausted.  Beyond  doubt  he  had  had  a  terrible 
shock  and  fright,  and  the  droop  of  his  eyehds  told  of 
shattered  nerves.  There  was  a  thick  white  bandage 
round  his  throat,  his  left  shoulder  was  strapped  tightly. 
He  spoke  with  difficulty. 

"  Do  we  feel  any  better  this  morning  ?  "  Walker  asked, 
cheerfully. 

"  No,  we  don't,"  said  Henson,  with  a  total  absence 
of  his  usual  graciousness  of  manner.  "  We  feel  con- 
foundedly weak,  and  sick,  and  dizzy.  Every  time  I 
drop  off  to  sleep  I  wake  with  a  start  and  a  feeling  that 
that  infernal  dog  is  smothering  me.  Has  the  brute  been 
shot  yet  ?  " 

"  I  don't  fancy  so  ;  in  fact,  he  is  still  at  his  post 
upstairs,  and  therefore " 

"  Therefore  you  have  not  seen  the  body  of  my  poor 
dear  cousin  ?  " 

"  Otherwise  I  could  have  given  no  certificate,"  Walker 
said,  with  dignity.  "  If  I  have  satisfied  myself,  sir, 
and  the  requirements  of  the  law,  why,  then,  everybody 
is  satisfied.     I  have  seen  the  body." 

Technically  the  little  doctor  spoke  the  truth.  Henson 
muttered  something  that  sounded  like  an  apology. 
Walker  smiled  graciously  and  suggested  that  rest  and 
a  plain  diet  were  all  that  his  patient  needed.  Rest  was 
the  great  thing.  The  bandages  need  not  be  removed 
for  a  day  or  two,  at  the  expiration  of  which  time  he 
would  look  in  again.  Once  the  road  was  reached  in 
safety  Walker  took  off  his  hat  and  wiped  the  beads 
from  his  forehead. 

"  What  a  house,"  he  muttered.  "  What  a  life  to  lead. 
Thank  goodness  I  need  not  go  there  again  before  Satur- 


134  THE  CRIMSON   BLIND. 

day.  If  anybody  were  to  ofler  me  a  small  glass  ol 
brandy  with  a  little  soda  now,  1  should  feel  tempted 
to  break  tlirough  my  rule  and  drink  it." 

Meanwhile  the  long  terror  of  the  day  dragged  on 
inside  the  house.  The  servants  crept  about  tlie  place 
on  tiptoe,  the  hideous  bell  clanged  out,  Mrs.  Henson 
paced  wearily  up  and  down  the  drawing-room,  singing 
and  muttering  to  herself,  until  Enid  was  fain  to  fly  or 
break  down  and  yell  hysterically.  It  was  one  of  Mar- 
garet Henson's  worst  days. 

The  death  of  Christiana  seemed  to  affect  her  terribly. 
Enid  watched  her  in  terror.  More  than  once  she  was 
fearful  that  the  fraU  thread  would  snap — the  last  faint 
glimmer  of  reason  go  out  for  ever.  And  yet  it  would 
be  madness  to  tell  Margaret  Henson  the  truth.  In  the 
first  place  she  would  not  have  understood,  and  on  the 
other  hand  she  might  have  comprehended  enough  to 
betray  to  Reginald  Henson.  As  it  was,  her  grief  was 
obvious  and  sincere  enough.  The  whole  thing  was 
refinedly  cruel,  but  really  there  was  no  help  for  it.  And 
things  had  gone  on  splendidly. 

Henson  was  powerless  to  interfere,  and  the  doctor 
was  satisfied.  Once  she  had  put  her  hand  to  the  plough 
Enid's  quick  brain  saw  her  through.  But  she  would 
have  been  hard  put  to  it  to  deceive  Henson  under  his 
very  nose  without  the  help  of  the  bloodhound.  Now 
she  could  see  her  way  still  farther.  She  waited  ner- 
vously for  a  ring  from  the  lodge-gates  to  the  house, 
and  about  four  o'clock  it  came.  The  undertaker  was 
at  the  gates  waiting  for  an  escort  to  the  Grange. 

Enid  passed  her  tongue  out  over  a  pair  of  dry  lips. 
The  critical  moment  was  at  hand.  If  she  could  get 
through  the  next  hour  she  was  safe.  If  not— but  there 
must  be  no  "if  not,"  she  told  herself.  The  undertaker 
came,  suave,  quiet,  respectful,  but  he  dropped  back 
from  the  bedroom  door  as  he  saw  two  gleaming,  ambei 
eyes  regarding  him  menacingly. 

"  The  dog  loved  my  sister,"  Enid  explained,  quietly. 
"  But  he  has  found  his  way  to  her  room,  and  he  refuses 
to  move.  He  fancies  that  we  have  done  something 
\vi«h  her.  .  .  .     Oh,  no,  I  couldn't  poison  him !     And 


ROLLO  SHOWS   HIS  TEETH.  135 

it  would  be  a  dreadful  thing  if  there  were  to  be  anything 
like  a  struggle  here.     Come,  Rollo." 

Evidently  the  dog  had  learned  his  lesson  well.  He 
wagged  his  great  tail,  but  refused  to  move.  The  under- 
taker took  a  couple  of  steps  forward  and  Rollo's  crest 
rose.  There  was  a  flash  of  white  teeth  and  a  growl. 
At  the  end  of  half  an  hour  no  progress  had  been  made. 

"  There's  only  one  thing  for  it,"  suggested  Williams, 
in  his  rusty  voice.  "  We  can  get  the  dog  away  for  ten 
minutes  at  midnight.  He  likes  a  run  then,  and  I'll  bring 
the  other  dogs  to  fetch  him,  like." 

"  My  time  is  very  valuable  just  now,"  the  undertaker 
suggested,  humbly. 

"  Then  you  had  better  measure  me,"  said  Enid,  turning 
a  face  absolutely  flaming  red  and  deadly  white  to  the 
speaker.  "  It  is  a  dreadful,  ghastly  business  altogether, 
but  I  cannot  possibly  think  of  any  other  way.     The 

idea  of  anything  like  a  struggle  here  is  abhorrent 

And  the  dog's  fidelity  is  so  touching.  My  sister  and  I 
were  exactly  alike,  except  that  she  was  fairer  than  me." 

The  undertaker  was  understood  to  demur  slightly  on 
professional  grounds.  It  was  very  irregular  and  not  in 
the  least  likely  to  give  satisfaction. 

"  What  does  it  matter  ?  "  Enid  cried,  passionately. 
She  was  acting  none  the  less  magnificently  because  her 
nerves  were  quivering  like  harpstrings.  "  When  I  am 
dead  you  can  fling  me  in  a  ditch,  for  all  I  care.  We  are 
a  strange  family  and  do  strange  tilings.  The  question 
of  satisfaction  need  not  bother  you.  Take  my  measure 
and  send  the  coffin  home  to-morrow,  and  we  will  manage 
to  do  the  rest.  Then  to-morrow  night  you  will  have 
a  four-horse  hearse  here  at  eleven  o'clock,  and  drive 
the  coffin  to  Churchfield  Church,  where  you  will  be 
expected.     After  that  your  work  will  be  finished." 

The  bewildered  young  man  responded  that  things 
should  be  exactly  as  the  young  lady  requited.  He  had 
seen  many  strange  and  wild  things  in  his  time,  but  none 
»o  strange  and  weird  as  this.  It  was  all  utterly  irregular, 
of  course,  but  people  after  all  had  a  right  to  demand 
what  they  paid  for.  Enid  watched  the  demure  young 
man  in  black  down  the  corridor,  and  tJicn  everything 


136  THE  CRIMSON  BLIND. 

seemed  to  be  enveloped  in  a  dense  purple  mist,  the 
world  was  spinning  under  her  feet,  there  was  a  great 
noise  like  the  rush  of  mighty  waters  in  her  brain.  With 
a  great  effort  she  threw  off  the  weakness  and  came  to 
herself,  trembling  from  head  to  foot. 

"  Courage,"  she  murmured,  "  courage.  This  life  has 
told  on  me  more  than  I  thought.  With  Chris's  axample 
before  me  I  must  not  break  down  now." 


CHAPTER   XX. 

FRANK   LirnMER- 

The  lamps  gleamed  upon  the  dusty  statuary  and  pic- 
tures and  faded  flowers  in  the  hall,  they  glinted  upon 
a  long  polished  oak  casket  there  reposing  upon  trestles. 
Ever  and  anon  a  servant  would  peep  in  and  vanish 
again  as  if  ashamed  of  something.  The  house  was 
deadly  quiet  now,  for  Mrs.  Henson  had  fallen  asleep 
worn  out  with  exhaustion,  and  Enid  had  instantly 
stopped  the  dreadful  clamour  of  the  beD.  The  silence 
that  followed  was  almost  as  painful  as  the  noise  had  been. 

On  the  cofhn  were  wreaths  of  flowers.  Enid  sat  in 
the  drawing-room  with  the  door  open,  where  she  could 
see  everything,  but  was  herself  unseen.  She  was  getting 
terribly  anxious  and  nervous  again  ;  the  hour  was  near 
eleven,  and  the  hearse  might  arrive  at  any  time.  She 
would  know  no  kind  of  peace  until  she  could  get  that 
hideous  mockery  out  of  the  house. 

She  sat  hstcning  thus,  straining  her  ears  to  catch  the 
slightest  sound.  Suddenly  there  came  a  loud  clamour 
at  the  front  door,  an  imperative  knocking  that  caused 
Enid's  heart  to  come  into  her  mouth.  Who  could  it 
be  ?     What  stranger  had  passed  the  dogs  in  that  way  ? 

She  heard  crabbed,  sour,  but  courageous  old  Williams 
go  to  the  door.  She  heard  the  clang  of  bolts  and  the 
rattle  of  chains,  and  then  a  weird  cry  from  Williams. 
A  voice  responded  that  brought  Enid,  trembling  and 
hvid,  into  the  halL     A  young  man  with  a  dark,  ex- 

137 


I3S  THE  CRIMSON   BLIND. 

recdingly  handsome  face  and  somewhat  efTemmata 
mouth  stood  tliere,  with  eyes  for  nothing  but  the  shining 
flower-decked  casket  on  the  trestles.  He  seemed  beside 
himself  with  rage  and  grief ;  he  might  have  been  a 
falsely  imprisoned  convict  face  to  face  with  the  real 
culprit. 

"  Why  didn't  you  let  me  know  ?  "  he  cried.  "  Wliy 
didn't  you  let  me  know  ?  " 

His  voice  rang  in  the  roof.  Enid  flew  to  his  side  and 
placed  her  hand  upon  his  lips. 

"  Your  mother  is  asleep,  Frank,"  she  said.  "  She  has 
had  no  sleep  for  three  nights.  A  long  rest  may  be  the 
means  of  preserving  her  sanity.  Why  did  you  come 
here  ?  " 

The  young  man  laughed  silently.  It  was  ghastly 
mirth  to  see,  and  it  brought  the  tears  into  Enid's 
eyes.  She  had  forgotten  the  danger  of  the  young 
man's  presence. 

"  I  heard  that  Chris  was  ill,"  he  said.  "  They  told 
me  that  she  was  dying.  And  I  could  not  keep  away. 
And  now  I  have  come  too  late.     Oh,  Chris,  Chris  !  " 

He  fell  on  his  knees  by  the  side  of  the  coffin,  his 
frame  shaken  by  tearless  sobs.  Enid  bit  her  hps  to 
keep  back  the  words  that  rose  to  them.  She  would 
have  given  much  to  have  spoken  the  tnith.  But  at 
any  hazard  she  must  remain  silent.  She  wdted  till  the 
paroxysm  of  grief  had  passed  away,  then  she  touched 
the  intruder  gently  on  the  shoulder. 

"  There  is  great  danger  for  you  in  tliis  house,"  she 
said. 

"  What  do  I  care  for  danger  when  Chris  lies  yonder  ?  " 

"  But,  dear  Frank,  there  are  others  to  consider  besides 
yourself.  There  is  your  mother,  for  instance.  Oh,  ycu 
ought  not  to  have  come  here  to-night.  If  your  father 
knew  !  " 

"  My  father  ?  He  would  be  the  last  person  in  the 
world  to  know.  And  what  cares  he  about  anything,  so 
long  as  he  has  his  prints  and  his  paintings  ?  He  has 
no  feelings,  no  heart,  no  soul,  I  may  say." 

"  Frank,  you  must  go  at  once.  Do  you  know  that 
Reginald  Henson  is  here  ?     He  has  ears  like  a  hare  ; 


FRANK   LITTIMER.  139 

It  win  be  nothing  less  than  a  miracle  unless  he  hears 
your  voice.     And  then " 

The  young  man  was  touched  at  last.  The  look  of 
grief  died  out  of  his  eyes  and  a  certain  terror  filled  them. 

"  I  think  that  I  should  have  come  in  any  case,"  he 
whispered.  "  I  don't  want  to  bring  any  further  trouble 
upon  you,  Enid,  but  I  wanted  to  see  the  last  of  her. 
I  came  here,  and  some  of  the  dogs  remembered  me. 
If  not,  I  might  have  had  no  occasion  to  trouble  you. 
And  I  won't  stay,  seeing  that  Henson  is  here.  Let  me 
have  something  to  remember  her  by  ;  let  me  look  into 
her  room  for  a  moment.  If  you  only  knew  how  I  loved 
ber !     And  you  look  as  if  you  had  no  grief  at  all." 

Enid  started  guiltily.  She  had  quite  forgotten  her 
role  for  the  time.  Indeed,  there  was  something  unmis- 
takably like  relief  on  her  face  as  she  heard  the  porter's 
bell  ring  from  the  lodge  to  the  house.  Williams  shuffled 
away,  muttering  that  he  would  be  more  useful  in  the 
house  than  out  of  it  just  now,  but  a  glance  from  Enid 
subdued  him.  Presently  there  came  the  sound  of  wheels 
on  the  gravel  outside. 

"  They  have  come  for  the — the  coffin,"  Enid  mur- 
mured. "  Frank,  it  would  be  best  for  you  to  go.  Go 
upstairs,  if  you  like  ;  you  know  the  way.  Only,  don't 
stay  here." 

The  young  man  went  off  dreamily.  A  heavy  grief 
dulled  and  blinded  his  senses  ;  he  walked  along  like 
one  who  wanders  in  his  sleep.  Christiana's  room  door 
was  open  and  a  lamp  was  there.  There  were  dainty 
knick-knacks  on  the  dressing-table,  a  vase  or  two  of 
faded  flowers — everything  that  denotes  the  presence  of 
refined  and  gracious  womanhood. 

Frank  Littimer  stood  there  looking  round  him  for 
•ome  little  time.  On  a  table  by  the  bedside  stood  a 
photograph  of  a  girl  in  a  silver  frame.  Littimer  pounced 
upon  it  hungrily.  It  was  a  good  picture — the  best  of 
Christiana's  that  he  had  ever  seen.  He  slipped  out  into 
the  corridor  and  gently  closed  the  door  behind  him. 
Then  he  passed  along  with  his  whole  gaze  fixed  on  the 
portrait.  The  girl  seemed  to  be  smiling  out  of  the 
frame  at  him.     He  bad  loved  Christiana  since  she  was 


Z4«  THE  CRIMSON   BLIND. 

a  child  ;  he  felt  that  he  had  never  loved  her  so  much 
as  at  this  moment.  Well,  he  had  something  to  re- 
member her  by — he  had  not  come  here  in  vain. 

It  seemed  impossible  yet  to  realise  that  Christiana 
was  dead,  that  he  would  never  look  into  her  sunny, 
tender  face  again.  No,  he  would  wake  up  presently 
and  fmd  it  had  all  been  a  dream.  And  how  different 
to  the  last  time  he  was  here.  He  had  been  smuggled 
into  the  house,  and  he  had  occupied  the  room  with  the 
oak  door.     He 

The  room  with  the  oak  door  opened  and  a  big  man 
with  a  white  bandage  round  his  throat  stood  there  with 
tottering  limbs  and  an  ugly  smile  on  his  loose  mouth. 
Littimer  started  back. 

"  Reginald,"  he  exclaimed,  "  I  didn't  expect  to  see 
you  here,  or " 

"  Or  you  would  never  have  dared  to  come  ?  "  Henson 
said,  hoarsely.  "  I  heard  your  voice  and  I  was  bound 
to  give  you  a  welcome,  even  at  considerable  personal 
inconvenience.  Help  me  back  to  bed  again.  And  now, 
you  insolent  young  dog,  how  dare  you  show  your  face 
here  ?  " 

"  I  came  to  see  Chris,"  Littimer  said,  doggedly.  "  And 
I  came  too  late.  Even  if  I  had  known  that  I  was  going 
to  meet  you,  I  should  have  been  here  all  the  same.  Oh, 
I  know  what  you  are  going  to  say  ;  I  know  what  you 
think.  And  some  day  I  shall  break  out  and  defy  you 
to  do  your  worst." 

Henson  smiled  as  one  might  do  at  the  outbreak  of 
an  angry  child.  His  eyes  flashed  and  his  tongue  spoke 
words  that  Littimer  fairly  cowed  before.  And  yet  he 
did  not  show  it.  He  was  like  a  boy  who  has  found  a 
stone  for  the  man  who  stands  over  him  with  the  whip. 
With  quick  intuition  Henson  saw  this,  and  in  a  measure 
his  manner  changed. 

"  You  will  say  next  that  you  are  not  afraid  of  me," 
he  suggested. 

"  Well,"  Littimer  replied,  slowly  ;  "  I  am  not  so  mach 
afraid  of  you  as  I  was." 

"  Ah  !  so  you  imagine  that  you  have  discovered  some- 
thing ?  " 


FRANK   LITTIMER.  141 

Littimer  apparently  struggled  between  a  prudent  de- 
sife  for  silence  and  a  disposition  to  speak.  The  sneer 
©n  the  face  of  his  enemy  fairly  maddened  him. 

"  Yes,"  he  said,  with  a  note  of  elation  in  his  voice, 
"  I  have  made  a  discovery,  but  I  am  not  going  to  tell 
you  how  or  where  my  discovery  is.  But  I've  found  Van 
Sneck." 

A  shade  of  whiter  pallor  came  over  Henson's  face. 
Then  his  eyes  took  on  a  murderous,  purple-black  gleam. 
All  the  same,  his  voice  was  quite  steady  as  he  replied. 

"  I'm  afraid  that  is  not  hkely  to  benefit  you  much," 
he  said.  "  Would  you  mind  handing  me  that  oblong 
black  book  from  the  dressing-table  ?  I  want  you  to  do 
something  for  me.     What's  that  ?  " 

There  was  just  the  faintest  suggestion  of  a  sound 
outside.  It  was  Enid  listening  with  all  her  ears.  She 
had  not  been  long  in  discovering  what  had  happened. 
Once  the  ghastly  farcical  incubus  was  off  her  shoulders 
she  had  followed  Littimer  upstairs.  As  she  passed 
Henson's  room  the  drone  of  voices  struck  on  her  ears. 
She  stood  there  and  listened.  She  would  have  given 
much  for  this  not  to  have  happened,  but  everything 
happened  for  the  worst  in  that  accursed  house. 

But  Henson's  last  words  were  enough  for  her.  She 
gathered  her  skirts  together  and  flew  down  the  stairs. 
In  the  hall  Williams  stood,  with  a  grin  on  his  face, 
pensively  scraping  his  chin  with  a  dry  forefinger. 

"  Now  what's  the  matter,  miss  ?  "  he  cried. 

"  Don't  ask  questions,"  Enid  cried.  "  Go  and  get  me 
the  champagne  nippers.  The  champagne  nippers  at 
once.  If  you  can't  find  them,  then  bring  me  a  pair  of 
pliers.  Then  come  to  me  on  the  leads  outside  the  bath- 
rooio.     It's  a  matter  of  life  and  death." 


CHAPTER   XXL 

A   FIND. 

David  did  not  appear  in  the  least  surprised ;  indeed, 
he  was  long  since  past  that  emotion.  Before  the  bottom 
of  the  mystery  was  reached  a  great  many  more  strange 
things  were  pretty  sure  to  happen. 

"  So  you  bought  that  cigar-case  yourself  ?  "  he  said. 

"  Indeed,  I  did,"  Ruth  answered,  eagerly.  "  Of  course 
I  have  long  known  you  by  name  and  I  have  read 
pretty  well  all  your  tales.  I — I  liked  your  work  so 
much." 

David  was  flattered.  The  shy,  sweet  admiration  in 
Ruth's  eyes  touched  him. 

"  And  I  was  very  glad  to  meet  you,"  Ruth  went  on. 
"  You  see,  we  all  liked  your  stories.  And  we  knew  one 
or  two  p)eople  who  had  met  you,  and  gradually  you 
became  quite  like  a  friend  of  ours — Enid  and  Chris  and 
myself,  you  understand.  Then  a  week  or  two  ago  I 
came  down  to  Brighton  with  my  uncle  to  settle  all  about 
taking  the  house  here.  And  I  happened  to  be  in  Lock- 
hart's  buying  something  when  you  came  in  and  asked 
to  see  the  cigar-case.  I  recognised  you  from  your 
photographs,  and  I  was  interested.  Of  course,  I  thought 
no  more  of  it  at  the  time,  until  Enid  came  up  to  London 
and  told  me  all  about  the  synopsis,  and  how  strangely 
the  heroine's  case  in  your  proposed  story  was  like  hers. 
Enid  wondered  how  you  were  going  to  get  the  girl  out 
of  her  difificulty,  and  I  jokingly  suggested  that  she  had 

14a 


A  FIND.  143 

better  ask  you.  She  accepfrd  the  idea  quite  seriously, 
saying  that  if  you  had  a  real,  plausible  way  out  of  the 
trouble  you  might  help  her.  And  gradually  our  scheme 
was  evolved.  You  were  not  to  know,  because  of  the 
possible  danger  to  yourself." 

"  At  the  hands  of  Reginald  Henson,  of  course  ?  " 

"  Yes.  Our  scheme  took  a  long  time,  but  we  got  it 
worked  out  at  last.  We  decided  on  the  telephone  be- 
cause we  thought  that  we  could  not  be  traced  that  way, 
never  imagining  for  a  moment  that  you  could  get  the 
number  of  your  caller  over  the  trunk  line.  Enid  came 
up  to  town,  and  worked  the  telephone,  Chris  was  in 
No.  218,  and  I  brought  the  money." 

"  You  placed  that  cigar-case  on  my  doorstep  ?  " 

"  Yes,  1  was  wound  up  for  anything.  It  was  I  whom 
you  saw  riding  the  bicycle  through  Old  Steine  ;  it  was 
1  who  dropped  the  card  of  instructions.  It  seems  a 
shameful  thing  to  say  and  to  do  now,  but  I — well,  I 
enjoyed  it  at  the  time.  And  I  did  it  for  the  sake  of 
my  friends.  Do  I  look  like  that  sort  of  a  girl,  Mr. 
Steel  ?  " 

David  glanced  into  the  beautiful  shy  eyes  with  just 
the  suggestion  of  laughter  in  them. 

"  You  look  all  that  is  loyal  and  good  and  true,"  he 
exclaimed.  "  And  I  don't  think  I  ever  admired  you 
quite  so  much  as  I  do  at  this  moment." 

Ruth  laughed  and  looked  down.  There  was  some- 
thing in  David's  glance  that  thrilled  her  and  gave  her 
a  sense  of  happiness  she  would  have  found  it  hard  to 
describe. 

"  I  am  so  glad  you  do  not  despise  mc,"  she 
whisi)ried. 

"  Despise  you  !  "  David  cried.  "  VVhy  ?  If  you  only 
knew  how  I,  well,  how  I  loved  you  !  Don't  be  angry. 
I  mean  every  word  that  I  say  ;  my  feelings  for  you  are 
as  pure  as  your  own  heart.  If  you  could  care  for  me 
as  you  do  for  those  others  I  should  have  a  friend 
indeed." 

"  You  have  made  me  care  for  you  very  much  indeed, 
Mr.  Steel,"  Kuth  whispered. 

"  Call  rae  David How  nice  my  plain  name 


144  THE  CRIMSON   BLIND. 

sounds  from  ^our  lips.  Ruth  and  David-  But  I  mnst 
hold  myself  in  hand  for  the  present.  Still,  I  am  glad 
you  like  me." 

"  Well,  you  have  been  so  good  and  kind.  We  have 
done  you  a  great  deal  of  injury  and  you  never  blamed 
us.  And  you  are  just  the  man  I  have  always  pictured 
as  the  man  I  could  love.  .  .  .  David  f  " 

"  Well,  it  was  only  one  little  kiss,  and  I'm  sure  no- 
body saw  us,  dear.  And  later  on,  when  you  are  my 
wife " 

"  Don't  you  think  we  had  better  keep  to  business  for 
the  present  ?  "  Ruth  said,  demurely. 

"  Perhaps.  There  is  one  little  point  that  you  must 
clear  up  before  we  go  any  farther.  How  did  you 
manage  to  furnish  those  two  big  dining-rooms  exactly 
alike  ?  " 

"  Why,  the  furniture  is  there.  At  the  top  of  the 
house,  in  a  large  attic,  all  the  furniture  is  stored." 

"  But  the  agent  told  me  it  had  been  removed." 

"  He  was  wrong.  You  can't  expect  the  agent  to  re- 
collect everything  about  a  house.  The  place  belonged 
to  the  lady  whom  we  may  call  Mrs.  Margaret  Henson  at 
one  time.  When  her  home  scheme  fell  through  she 
sold  one  house  as  it  was.  In  the  other  she  stored 
the  furniture.  Enid  knew  of  all  this,  of  course. 
We  managed  to  get  a  latch-key  to  fit  218,  and 
Enid  and  a  man  did  the  rest.  Her  idea  was  to 
keep  yoH  in  the  dark  as  much  as  possible.  After 
the  interview  the  furniture  was  put  back  again,  and 
there  you  are.  " 

"  Diplomatic  and  clever,  and  decidedly  original,  not 
to  say  feminine.  In  the  light  of  recently  acquired 
knowledge  I  can  quite  see  why  your  friends  desired  to 
preserve  their  secret.  But  they  need  not  have  taken 
all  those  precautions.     Had  they  written " 

"  They  dared  not.  They  were  fearful  as  to  what  might 
become  of  the  reply." 

"  But  they  might  have  come  to  me  oj)enly." 

"  Again,  they  dared  not  for  your  sake.  You  know 
a  great  deal,  David,  but  tliere  is  darkness  and  trouble 
and  wickedness  yet  that  I  dare  not  speak  of.     And  yoa 


A  FIND.  145 

are  in  danger.  Already  Reginald  Henson  has  show  1 
you  what  he  can  do." 

"  And  yet  he  doesn't  know  everything,"  David  smiled. 
"  He  may  have  stabbed  me  in  the  back,  but  he  is  quite 
ignorant  as  to  what  advice  I  gave  to  Enid  Henson, 
which  brings  me  back  to  the  cigar-case.  You  saw  me 
looking  at  it  in  Lockhart's.     Go  on." 

"  Yes,  I  watched  you  with  a  great  deal  of  curiosity. 
Finally  you  went  off  out  of  the  shop  saying  that  you 
could  not  afford  to  buy  the  cigar-case,  and  I  thought 
no  more  of  the  matter  for  a  time.  Then  we  found  out 
all  about  your  private  affairs.  Oh,  I  am  ashamed  almost 
to  go  on." 

The  dainty  little  face  grew  crimson  ;  the  hand  in 
David's  trembled. 

"  But  we  were  desperate.  And,  after  all,  we  were 
doing  no  harm.  It  was  just  then  that  the  idea  of  the 
cigar-case  came  into  my  mind.  We  knew  that  if  we 
could  get  you  to  take  that  money  it  would  only  be  as 
a  loan.  I  suggested  the  gift  of  the  case  as  a  memento 
of  the  occasion.  I  purchased  that  case  with  my  own 
money  and  I  placed  it  with  its  contents  on  the  door- 
step of  your  house." 

"  Did  you  watch  it  all  the  time  ?  " 

"  No,  I  didn't.  But  I  was  satisfied  that  nobody  passed, 
and  I  was  sufficiently  near  to  hear  your  door  open  at 
the  hour  appointed.  Of  course,  we  had  carefully  re- 
hearsed the  telephone  conversation,  and  I  knew  exactly 
what  to  do." 

David  sat  very  thoughtfully  for  some  little  time. 

"  The  case  must  have  been  changed,"  he  said.  "  It 
is  very  difficult  to  say  how,  but  there  is  no  other  logical 
solution  of  the  matter.  At  about  half-past  twelve  on 
that  eventful  night  you  placed  on  my  doorstep  a  gun- 
metal  cigar-case,  mounted  in  diamonds,  that  you  had 
purchased  from  Lockhart's  ?  " 

"  Yes,  and  the  very  one  that  you  admired.  Of  that 
I  am  certain." 

"  Very  well.  I  take  that  case  with  me  to  218,  Bruns- 
wick Square,  and  I  bring  it  back  again.  Did  I  take  it 
with  me  or  not  ?     Anyhow,  it  was  found  on  the  floor 

K 


146  THE  CRIMSON   BLIND. 

beside  the  body.  It  never  passed  out  of  my  possession 
to  my  knowledge.  Next  day  I  leave  it  at  the  office  of 
Messrs.  Mossa  and  Mack,  and  it  gets  into  the  hands  of 
the  police." 

"  Was  it  not  possibly  changed  there,  David  ?  " 

"  No,  because  of  the  initials  I  had  scratched  inside 
it.  And  beyond  all  question  that  case — the  same  case, 
mind  you,  that  I  picked  up  on  my  doorstep — was  pur- 
chased by  the  man  now  lying  in  the  hospital  here  from 
Walen's,  in  West  Street.  Now,  how  was  the  change 
made  ?  " 

"  If  I  could  only  see  my  way  to  help  you  !  " 

"  The  change  was  made  the  day  you  bought  the  case. 
By  the  way,  what  time  was  it  ?  " 

"  I  can't  tell  you  the  exact  time,"  Ruth  replied. 
"It  was  on  the  morning  of  the  night  of  youi 
adventure." 

"  And  you  kept  it  by  you  all  the  time." 

"  Yes.  It  was  in  a  little  box  sealed  with  yellow  wax 
and  tied  with  yellow  string.  I  went  to  219  after  I  had 
made  the  purchase.  My  uncle  was  there  and  he  was 
using  the  back  sitting-room  as  an  office.  He  had  brought 
a  lot  of  papers  with  him  to  go  through." 

"  Ah  !     Did  you  put  your  package  down  ?  " 

"  Just  for  a  moment  on  the  table.  But  surely  my 
uncle  would  not " 

"  One  moment,  please.  Was  anybody  with  your  uncle 
at  the  time  ?  " 

Ruth  gave  a  sudden  little  cry. 

"How  senseless  of  me  to  forget,"  she  cried.  "My 
uncle  was  down  merely  for  the  day,  and,  as  he  was  very 
Dusy,  he  sent  for  Mr.  Reginald  Henson  to  help  him.  I 
did  not  imagine  that  Mr.  Henson  would  know  anything. 
But  even  now  I  cannot  see  what " 

"  Again  let  me  interrupt  you.  Did  you  leave  the  room 
at  aU  ?  " 

"  Yes.  It  is  all  coming  back  to  me  now.  My  uncle's 
medicine  was  locked  up  in  my  bag.  He  asked  me  to 
go  for  it  and  I  went,  leaving  my  purchase  on  the  table. 
It  is  all  coming  back  to  me  now.  .  .  .  When  I  returned 
Mr.  Henson  was  quite  alone,  as  somebody  had  called  to 


A  FIND.  147 

see  ray  uncle.  Mr.  Henson  seemed  surprised  to  see  me 
back  so  soon,  and  as  I  entered  he  cnislicd  something 
up  in  his  hand  and  dropped  it  into  tlie  waste-paper 
basket.     But  my  parcel  was  quite  intact." 

"  Yellow  wax  and  yellow  string  and  all  ?  " 

"  Yes,  so  far  as  I  remember.  It  was  Mr.  Henson  who 
reminded  m}'  uncle  about  his  medicine." 

"  And  when  you  were  away  the  change  was  made. 
Strange  that  your  uncle  should  be  so  friendly  with  both 
Henson  and  Bell.  Have  they  ever  met  under  your 
roof  ?  " 

"  No,"  Ruth  replied.  "  Henson  has  always  alluded 
to  Dr.  Bell  as  a  lost  man.  He  professes  to  be  deeply 
sorry  for  him,  but  he  has  declined  to  meet  him.  Where 
are  you  going  ?  " 

"  I  am  going  with  you  to  see  if  we  can  find  anything 
in  the  waste-paper  basket  at  No.  219.  Bell  tells  me 
that  your  servants  have  instructions  to  touch  no  papers, 
and  I  know  that  the  back  sitting-room  of  your  house  is 
used  as  a  kind  of  office.  I  want,  if  possible,  to  find  the 
paper  that  Henson  tried  to  hide  on  the  day  you  bought 
the  cigar-case." 

The  basket  proved  to  be  a  large  one,  and  was  partially 
filled  with  letters  that  had  never  been  opened — begging- 
letters,  Ruth  said.  For  half  an  hour  David  was  engaged 
in  smoothing  out  crumpled  sheets  of  paper,  until  at 
length  his  search  was  rewarded.  He  held  a  jiacket  of 
note-paper,  the  usual  six  sheets,  one  inside  the  other, 
that  generally  go  to  correspondence  sheets  of  good 
quality.  It  was  crushed  up,  but  Steel  flattened  it  out 
and  held  it  up  for  Ruth's  inspection. 

"  Now,  here  is  a  find  !  "  he  cried.  "  Look  at  the  ad- 
dress in  green  at  the  top  :  '  15,  Downend  Terrace.'  Five 
sheets  of  my  own  best  notcpaper,  printed  especially 
for  myself,  in  this  basket  !  Origin:illy  this  was  a  block 
of  six  sheets,  but  the  one  has  been  written  upon  and 
the  others  crushed  up  like  this.  Beyond  doubt  the  paper 
was  stolen  from  my  study.     And — what's  this  ?  " 

He  held  uj)  the  thick  paper  to  tlie  light.  At  the  foot 
of  the  top  sheet  was  plainly  indented  in  outline  tlid 
initials  "  D.  S." 


148  THE  CRIMSON   BLIND. 

"  My  own  cipher,"  David  went  on.  "  Scrawled  in  so 
boldly  as  to  mark  on  the  under  sheet  of  paper.  Almost 
invariably  I  use  initials  instead  of  my  full  name  unless 
it  is  quite  formal  business." 

"  And  what  is  to  be  done  now  ?  "  Ruth  asked. 

"  Find  tlie  letter  forged  over  what  looks  like  a  genaine 
cipher,"  David  said,  griiuiy. 


CHAPTER   XXIL 

••The  Light  that  Failed.** 

Bell  followed  Dr.  Cross  into  the  hospital  with  a  sense 
of  familiar  pleasure.  The  cool,  sweet  smell  of  the  place, 
the  decorous  silence,  the  order  of  it  all  appealed  to  him 
strongly.  It  was  as  the  old  war-horse  who  sniffs  the 
battle  from  afar.  And  the  battle  with  death  was  ever 
a  joy  to  Bell. 

"  This  is  all  contrary  to  regulations,  of  course,"  he 
suggested. 

"  Well,  it  is,"  Cross  admitted.  "  But  I  am  an  en- 
thusiast, and  one  doesn't  often  get  a  chance  of  chatting 
with  a  brilliant,  erratic  star  like  yourself.  Besides,  our 
man  is  not  in  the  hosjntal  proper.  He  is  in  a  kind  of 
annexe  by  my  own  quarters,  and  he  scoffs  the  suggestion 
of  being  nursed." 

Bell  nodded,  understanding  perfectly.  He  came  at 
length  to  a  brilliantly-Ughted  room,  where  a  dark  man 
with  an  exceedingly  high  forehead  and  wonderfully 
piercing  eyes  was  sitting  up  in  bed.  The  dark  eyes 
lighted  with  pleasure  as  they  fell  upon  Bell's  queer, 
shambling  figure  and  white  hair. 

"  The  labour  we  delight  in  physics  pain,"  he  greeted 
with  a  laugh  and  a  groan.  "  It's  worth  a  badly  twisted 
shoulder  to  have  the  pleasure  of  seeing  Hatherly  Bell 
again.     My  dear  fellow,  how  are  you  ?  " 

The  voice  was  low  and  pleasant,  there  was  no  trace 
of  insanity  about  the  speaker.     Bell  shook  the  prof- 

M9 


150  THE  CRIMSON   BUND. 

fered  hand.  For  some  little  time  the  conversation 
proceeded  smoothly  enough.  The  stranger  was  a  good 
talker  ;   his  remarks  were  keen  and  to  the  point. 

"  I  hope  you  will  he  comfortable  here,"  Bell  suggested. 

A  faint  subtle  change  came  over  the  other's  face. 

"  All  but  one  thing,"  he  whispered.  "  Don't  make 
a  fuss  about  it,  because  Cross  is  very  kind.  But  I  can't 
stand  the  electric  light.  It  reminds  me  of  the  great 
tragedy  of  my  life.  But  for  the  electric  light  I  should 
be  a  free  man  with  a  good  practice  to-day." 

"  So  you  are  harjiing  on  that  string  again,"  Bell  said, 
coldly.  "  I  fancied  that  I  had  argued  you  out  of  that. 
You  know  perfectly  well  that  it  is  all  imagination, 
Heritage." 

Heritage  passed  his  left  hand  across  his  eyes  in  a 
confused  kind  of  way. 

"  When  you  look  at  one  like  that  I  fancy  so,"  he  said. 
"  When  I  was  under  your  hands  I  was  forgetting  all 
about  it.  And  now  it  has  all  come  back  again.  Did 
I  tell  you  all  about  it,  Cross  ?  " 

Bell  gave  Cross  a  significant  glance,  and  the  latter 
shook  his  head. 

"  Well,  it  was  this  way,"  Heritage  began,  eagerly. 
His  eyes  were  gleaming  now,  his  whole  aspect  was 
changed.  "  I  was  poor  and  struggling,  but  I  had  a 
grand  future  before  me.  There  was  a  patient  of  mine, 
a  rich  man,  who  had  a  deadly  throat  trouble.  And  he 
was  going  to  leave  me  all  his  money  if  I  cured  him. 
He  tSld  me  he  had  made  a  will  to  that  effect,  and  he 
had  done  so.  And  I  was  in  direst  straits  for  some 
ready  cash.  When  I  came  to  operate  I  used  an  electric 
light,  a  powerful  light — you  know  what  I  mean  The 
operation  failed  and  my  patient  died.  The  operation 
failed  because  the  electric  light  went  out  at  a  critical 
time. 

"  People  said  it  was  a  great  misfortune  for  me,  be- 
cause I  was  on  the  threshold  of  a  new  discovery  which 
would  have  made  my  name.  Nothing  of  the  kind.  I 
deliberately  cut  the  positive  wire  of  the  electric  light 
so  that  I  should  fail,  and  so  that  my  patient  might  die 
and  I  might  get  all  his  money  at  once.     And  he  did 


•'THE   LIGHT  THAT   FAILED."  151 

die,  and  nobody  suspected  me — nobody  could  possibly 
have  found  me  out.  Then  I  went  mad  and  they  put 
me  under  Bell's  care.  I  should  have  got  well,  only  he 
gave  up  his  practice  and  drifted  into  the  world  again. 
My  good,  kind  friend  Reginald  Henson  heard  of  my 
case  ;  he  interested  some  people  in  me  and  placed  me 
where  I  am  at  present." 

"  So  Reginald  Henson  knows  all  about  it  .? "  Bell 
asked,  drily. 

"  My  dear  fellow,  he  is  the  best  friend  I  have  in  the 
world.  He  was  most  interested  in  my  case.  I  have 
gone  over  it  with  him  a  hundred  times.  I  showed  him 
exactly  how  it  was  done.  And  now  you  know  why  I 
loathe  the  electric  light.  When  it  shines  in  my  eyes  it 
maddens  me  ;  it  brings  back  to  me  the  recollection  of 
that  dreadful  time,  it  causes  me  to " 

"  Heritage,"  Bell  said,  sternly,  "  close  your  eyes  at 
once,  and  be  silent." 

The  patient  obeyed  instantly.  He  had  not  forgotten 
the  old  habit  of  obedience.  When  he  opened  his  eyes 
again  at  length  he  looked  round  him  in  a  foolish,  shame- 
faced manner. 

"  I — I  am  afraid  I  have  been  rambling,"  he  muttered. 
*'  Pray  don't  notice  me,  Bell ;  if  you  are  as  good  a 
fellow  as  you  used  to  be,  come  and  see  me  again.  I'm 
tired  now." 

Bell  gave  the  desired  assurance,  and  he  and  Cross  left 
the  room  together. 

"  Any  sort  of  truth  in  what  he  has  been  saying  ?  " 
asked  the  latter. 

"  Very  little,"  Bell  replied.  "  Heritage  is  an  exceed- 
ingly clever  fellow  who  has  not  yet  recovered  from  a 
bad  breakdown  some  years  ago.  I  had  nearly  cured 
him  at  one  time,  but  he  seems  to  have  lapsed  into  bad 
ways  again.  Some  day,  when  I  have  time,  I  shaD  take 
up  his  case  once  more." 

"  Did  he  operate,  or  try  some  new  throat  cure  ?  " 

"  Exactly.  He  was  on  the  verge  of  discovering  some 
way  of  operating  for  throat  cases  with  complete  success. 
You  can  imagine  how  oxciti-d  he  was  over  his  discovery. 
Unfortunately    the    patient    he    experimented    on    died 


i5a  THE  CRIMSON   BLIND. 

under  the  op)eration,  not  because  the  h'ght  went  out  or 
any  nonsense  of  that  kind,  but  from  failure  of  the  heart's 
action  owing  to  excitement.  Heritage  had  no  sleep  for 
a  fortnight,  and  he  broke  down  altogether.  For  months 
he  was  really  mad,  and  when  his  senses  came  back  to 
him  he  had  that  hallucination.  Some  day  it  will  go, 
and  some  day  Heritage  will  take  up  the  dropped  threads 
of  his  discovery  and  the  world  will  be  all  the  ttetter  for 
it.     And  now,  will  you  do  me  a  favour  ?  " 

"  I  will  do  anything  that  lies  in  my  power." 

"  Then  be  good  enough  to  let  me  have  a  peep  at  the 
man  who  was  found  half-murdered  in  my  friend  David 
Steel's  conservatory.     I'm  interested  in  that  case." 

Cross  hesitated  for  a  moment. 

"  All  right,"  he  said.  "  There  can't  be  any  harm  in 
that.     Come  this  way." 

Bell  strolled  along  with  the  air  of  a  man  who  is  moved 
by  no  more  than  ordinary  curiosit}'.  But  from  the  first 
he  had  made  up  his  mind  not  to  lose  this  opportunity. 
He  had  not  the  remotest  idea  what  he  expected  to  find, 
but  he  had  a  pretty  good  idea  that  he  was  on  the  verge 
of  an  important  discovery.  He  came  at  length  to  the 
bedside  of  the  mysterious  stranger.  The  man  was  lying 
on  his  back  in  a  state  of  coma,  his  breath  came  heavily 
between  his  parted  lips. 

Bell  bent  low  partly  to  examine  the  patient,  partly 
to  hide  his  face  from  Cross.  If  Bell  had  made  any  dis- 
covery he  kept  the  fact  rigidly  to  himself. 

"  Looks  very  young,"  he  muttered-  "  But  then  he 
is  one  of  those  men  who  never  grow  any  hair  on  their 
faces.  Young  as  he  looks,  I  should  judge  him  to  be  at 
least  forty-five,  and,  if  I  am  not  mistaken,  he  is  a  man 
who  has  he^rd  the  chimes  at  midnight  or  later.  I'm 
quite  satisfied." 

"  It's  more  than  I  am,"  Cross  said,  when  at  length 
he  and  his  visitor  were  standing  outside  together.  "  Look 
here,  Bell,  you're  a  great  friend  of  Steel's,  whom  I  be- 
lieve to  be  a  very  good  fellow.  I  don't  want  to  get 
him  into  any  harm,  but  a  day  or  two  ago  I  found  this 
letter  in  a  pocket-book  in  a  belt  worn  by  our  queer 
patient.     Steel  says  the  fellow  is  a  perfect  stranger  to 


THE   LIGHT  THAT  FAILED."  153 

him,  and  I  believe  that  statement.  But  what  about 
this  letter  ?  I  ought  to  have  sent  it  to  the  pokice,  but 
I  didn't.     Read  it." 

And  Cross  proceeded  to  take  a  letter  from  his  pocket. 
It  was  on  thick  paper  ;  the  stamped  address  given  was 
"  15,  Downend  Terrace."  There  was  no  heading, 
merely  the  words  "  Certainly,  with  pleasure,  I  shall  be 
home ;  in  fact,  I  am  home  every  night  till  12.30,  and 
you  may  call  any  time  up  till  then.  If  you  knock 
quietly  on  the  door  I  shall  hear  you. — D.S." 

"  What  do  you  make  of  it  ?  "  Cross  cisked. 

"  It  looks  as  if  your  patient  had  called  at  Steel's  house 
by  appointment,"  Bell  admitted.  "  Here  is  the  invita- 
tion undoubtedly  in  Steel's  handwriting.  Subsequently 
the  poor  fellow  is  found  in  Steel's  house  nearly  mur- 
dered, and  yet  Steel  declares  solemnly  that  the  man  is 
a  perfect  stranger  to  him.  It  is  a  bad  business,  but  I 
assure  you  that  Steel  is  the  soul  of  honour.  Cross, 
would  you  be  so  good  as  to  let  me  have  that  letter  for 
two  or  three  days  ?  " 

"  Very  well,"  Cross  said,  after  a  httle  hesitation. 
"  Good-night." 

Bell  went  on  his  way  homeward  with  plenty  of  food 
for  thought. 

He  stopped  just  for  a  moment  to  light  a  cigar. 

"  Getting  towards  the  light,"  he  muttered  ;  "  getting 
along.  The  light  is  not  going  to  fail  alter  all.  I  wonder 
what  Reginald  Henson  would  say  if  he  only  knew  that 
I  liad  been  to  the  hospital  and  recognised  our  mutual 
friend  Van  Sneck  there  I  " 


CHAPTER    XXIII. 

INDISCRETION. 

The  expression  on  Henson's  usually  benign  countenanc* 
would  have  startled  such  of  his  friends  and  admirers  as 
regarded  him  as  a  shining  light  and  great  example. 
The  smug  satisfaction,  the  unctuous  sweetness  of  the 
expansive  blue  eyes  were  gone  ;  a  murderous  gleam 
shone  there  instead.  His  lips  were  set  and  rigid,  the 
strong  hand  seemed  to  be  strangling  the  bedclothes. 
It  wanted  no  effort  of  imagination  to  picture  Henson 
as  the  murderer  stooping  over  his  prey.  The  man  had 
discarded  his  mask  altogether. 

"  Oh,"  he  said,  between  his  teeth,  "  you  are  a  clever 
fellow.  You  would  have  made  an  excellent  detective. 
And  so  you  have  found  out  where  Van  Sneck  is  ?  " 

"  I  have  already  told  you  so,"  Littimer  said,  doggedly. 

"  How  many  days  have  you  been  hanging  about 
Brighton  ?  " 

"  Two  or  three.  I  came  when  I  heard  that  Chris  was 
ill.  I  didn't  dare  to  come  near  the  house,  at  least  not 
too  near,  for  fear  of  being  seen.  But  I  pumped  the 
doctor.  Then  he  told  me  that  Chris  was  dead,  and  I 
risked  it  all  to  see  the  last  of  her." 

"  Yes,  yes,"  Henson  said,  testily ;  "  but  what  has 
this  to  do  with  Van  Sneck  .?  " 

"  I  was  looking  for  Van  Sneck.  I  found  that  he  had 
been  here.  I  discovered  that  he  had  left  his  rooms  and 
had  not  returned  to  them.  Then  it  oc^rurrcd  to  mc  to 
try  the  hospital.     I  pretended  that  I  was  in  search  of 


INDISCRETION.  155 

some  missing  relative,  and  they  showed  me  three  cases 
of  bad  accidents,  the  victims  of  which  had  not  been 
identified.     And  the  third  was  Van  Sneck." 

Littimer  told  his  story  with  just  the  suggestion  of 
triumph  in  his  voice.  Henson  was  watching  him  with 
the  keenest  possible  interest. 

"  Do  you  know  how  Van  Sneck  got  there  ?  "  he  asked. 

Littimer  nodded.  Evidently  he  had  heard  most  of 
the  story.  Henson  was  silent  for  some  little  time.  He 
was  working  out  something  in  his  mind.  His  smile  was 
not  a  pleasant  one  ;  it  was  nothing  like  his  bland  plat- 
form smile,  for  instance. 

"  Give  me  that  black  book,"  he  said.  "  Do  you  know 
how  to  work  the  telephone  ?  " 

"  I  daresay  I  could  learn.     It  doesn't  look  hard." 

"  Well,  that  is  an  extension  telephone  on  the  table 
yonder  worked  in  connection  with  the  main  instrument 
m  the  library.  I  like  to  have  my  own  telephone,  as  it 
is  of  the  greatest  assistance  to  me.  Turn  that  handle 
two  or  three  times  and  put  that  receiver  to  your  ear. 
When  the  Exchange  answers  tell  them  to  put  you  on 
to  0,017  Gerrard." 

Littimer  obeyed  mechanically,  but  though  he  rang 
and  rang  again  no  answer  came.  With  a  snarling  curse 
Henson  dragged  himself  out  of  bed  and  crossed  the  room, 
with  limbs  that  shook  under  him. 

He  twirled  the  handle  round  passionately. 

"  You  always  were  a  fool,"  he  growled,  "  and  you 
always  will  be." 

Still  no  reply  came.  Henson  whirled  angrily,  but  he 
could  elicit  no  response.  He  kicked  the  instrument 
over  and  danced  round  it  impotently.  Littimer  had 
never  seen  him  in  such  a  raging  fury  before.  The  lan- 
guage of  the  man  was  an  outrage,  filthy,  revolting, 
profane.  No  yelling,  drunken  Hooligan  could  have 
been  more  fluent,  more  luridly  diffuse. 

"  Go  on,"  Littimer  said,  liitterly.  "  I  like  to  hear  you, 
I  like  to  hear  the  smug,  plausible  Pharisee,  the  friend 
of  the  good  and  pious,  going  on  like  this.  I'd  give  fifty 
years  of  my  life  to  have  just  a  handful  of  your  future 
constituents  here  fur  a  mouicuL" 


156  THE   CRIMSON   BLIND. 

Henson  paused  suddenly  and  requested  that  Littimer 
should  help  him  into  bed. 

"  I  can  afford  to  speak  freely  before  you,"  he  said. 
"  Say  a  word  against  me  and  I'll  crush  you.  Put  out 
a  hand  to  injure  me  and  I'll  wipe  you  off  the  face  of 
the  earth.  It's  absolutely  imperative  that  I  should 
Send  an  important  telephone  message  to  London  at  once, 
and  here  the  machine  has  broken  down  and  no  chance 
of  its  being  repaired  for  a  day  or  two.  Curse  the  tele- 
phone." 

He  lay  back  on  his  bed  utterly  exhausted  by  his  fit 
of  passion.  One  of  the  white  bandages  about  his  throat 
had  started,  and  a  little  thin  stream  of  blood  trickled 
down  his  chest.  Littimer  waited  for  the  next  move. 
He  watched  the  crimson  fluid  trickle  over  Henson's 
sleeping-jacket.  He  could  have  watched  the  big  scoun- 
drel bleeding  to  death  with  the  greatest  possible  pleasure. 

"  What  was  Van  Sneck  doing  here  ?  " 

The  voice  came  clear  and  sharp  from  the  bed.  Litti- 
mer responded  to  it  as  a  cowed  hound  does  to  a  sudden 
yet  not  quite  unexpected  lash  from  a  huntsman's  wliip. 
His  manliness  was  of  small  account  where  Henson  was 
concerned.  For  years  he  had  come  to  heel  like  this. 
Yet  the  question  startled  him  and  took  him  entirely  by 
surprise. 

"  He  was  looking  for  the  lost  Rembrandt." 

But  Littimer's  surprise  was  as  nothing  to  Henson's 
amazement.  He  lay  fiat  on  his  back  so  that  his  face 
could  not  be  seen.  From  the  expression  of  it  he  had 
obtained  a  totally  unexpected  reply  to  his  question. 
He  was  so  amazed  that  he  had  no  words  for  the  moment. 
But  his  quick  intelligence  and  amazing  cunning  grasped 
the  possibilities  of  the  situation.  Littimer  was  in  pos- 
session of  information  to  which  he  was  a  stranger. 
Except  in  a  vague  way  he  had  not  the  remotest  idea 
what  Littimer  was  talking  about.  But  the  younger  man 
must  not  know  that. 

"  So  Van  Sneck  told  you  so  ?  "  he  asked.  "  What  a 
fool  he  must  have  been  !  And  why  should  he  come 
seeking  for  the  Rembrandt  in  Brighton  ?  " 

"  Because  he  knows  it  was  there,  I  suppose.** 


INDISCRETION.  157 

"  It  isn't  here,  because  it  doesn't  exist.  The  thing 
was  destroyed  by  accident  by  the  pohce  when  they 
raided  Van  Sneck's  lodgings  years  ago." 

"  Van  Sneck  told  rae  that  he  had  actually  seen  the 
picture  in  Brighton." 

Henson  chuckled.  The  noise  was  intended  to  convey 
amused  contempt,  and  it  had  that  effect,  so  far  as 
Littimer  was  concerned.  It  was  well  for  Henson  that 
the  latter  could  not  see  the  strained  anxiety  of  liis  face. 
The  man  was  alert  and  quivering  with  excitement  in 
every  Umb.  Still  he  chuckled  again  as  if  the  whole  thing 
merely  amused  him. 

"  '  The  Crimson  Blind '  is  Van  Sneck's  weak  spot," 
he  said.  "  It  is  King  Charles's  head  to  him.  By  good 
or  bad  luck — it  is  in  your  hands  to  say  which — you 
know  all  about  the  way  in  which  it  became  necessary 
to  get  Hatherly  Bell  on  our  side.  All  the  same,  the 
Rembrandt — the  other  one — is  destroyed." 

"  Van  Sneck  has  seen  the  picture,"  Littimer  said, 
doggedly. 

"  Oh,  play  the  farce  out  to  the  end,"  Henson  laughed, 
good-humouredly.     "  Where  did  he  see  it  ?  " 

"  He  says  he  saw  it  at  218,  Brunswick  Square." 

Henson's  knees  suddenly  came  up  to  his  nose,  then 
he  lay  quite  flat  again  for  a  long  time.  His  face  had 
grown  white  once  more,  liis  lips  utterly  bloodless.  Fear 
was  written  all  over  him.  A  more  astute  man  than 
Littimer  would  have  seen  the  beads  standing  out  on  his 
forehead.  It  was  some  little  time  before  he  dared  trust 
himself  to  speak  again. 

"  I  know  the  house  you  mean,"  he  said.  "  It  is  next 
door  to  the  temporary  residence  of  my  esteemed  friend, 
Gilead  Gates.  At  the  present  moment  the  place  is 
void " 

"  And  has  been  ever  since  your  bogus  '  Home '  broke 
up.  Years  ago,  before  you  used  your  power  to  rob  and 
oppress  us  as  you  do  now,  you  had  a  Home  there.  You 
collected  subscriptions  right  and  left  in  the  name  of 
the  Reverend  Felix  Crosbie,  and  you  put  the  moned 
into  your  pocket.  A  certain  weekly  journal  exposey 
you,  and  you  had  to  leave  suddenly  or  you  would  have 


159  THE  CRIMSON  BLIND. 

found  yourself  in  the  hands  of  the  police.  You  skij)pcd 
so  suddenly  that  you  had  no  time  even  to  think  of  your 
personal  effects,  which  you  understood  were  sold  to 
defray  expenses.  Rut  they  were  not  sold,  as  nobody 
cared  to  throw  good  money  after  bad.  Van  Sneck  got 
in  with  the  agent  under  pretence  of  viewing  the  house, 
and  he  saw  the  picture  there." 

"  Why  didn't  he  take  it  with  him  ?  "  Henson  asked, 
with  amused  scorn.  He  was  master  of  himself  again 
and  had  his  nerves  well  under  control. 

"  Well,  that  was  hardly  like  Van  Sneck.  Our  friend 
is  nothing  if  not  diplomatic.  But  when  he  did  manage 
to  get  into  the  house  again  the  picture  was  gone." 

"  Excellent !  "  Henson  cried.  "  How  dramatic  ! 
There  is  only  one  thing  required  to  make  the  story 
complete.  The  picture  was  taken  away  by  Hatherly 
Bell.  If  you  don't  bring  that  in  as  the  denouement  I 
shall  be  utterly  disappointed." 

"  You  needn't  be,"  Littimer  said,  coolly.  "  That  is 
exactly  what  did  happen." 

Henson  chuckled  again,  quite  a  parody  of  a  chuckle 
this  time.  He  could  detect  the  quiet  suggestion  of 
triumph  in  Littimer's  voice. 

"  Did  Van  Sneck  tell  you  all  this  ?  "  he  asked. 

"  Not  the  latter  part  of  it,"  Littimer  replied,  "  seeing 
that  he  was  in  the  hospital  when  it  happened.  But  I 
know  it  is  true  because  I  saw  Bell  and  David  Steel, 
the  novelist,  come  away  from  the  house,  and  Bell  had 
the  picture  under  his  arm.  And  that's  why  Van  Sncck's 
agent  couldn't  find  it  the  second  time  he  went.  Check 
to  you,  my  friend,  at  any  rate.  Bell  will  go  to  my 
father  with  Rembrandt  number  two,  and  compare  it 
with  number  one.     And  then  the  fat  will  be  in  the  fire." 

Henson  yawned  affectedly.  All  the  same  he  was 
terribly  disturbed  and  shaken.  All  he  wanted  now  was 
to  be  alone  and  to  think.  So  far  as  he  could  tell  nobody 
besides  Littimer  knew  anything  of  the  matter.  And  no 
starved,  cowed,  broken-hearted  puppy  was  ever  closer 
under  the  heel  of  his  master  than  Littimer.  He  still 
held  all  the  cards  ;  he  still  controlled  the  fortunes  of 
iwo  in-starred  houses. 


INDISCRETION.  159 

•'  You  can  leave  me  now,"  he  said.  "  I'm  tired.  I 
have  had  a  trying  day,  and  I  need  sleep  ;  and  the  sooner 
you  are  out  of  the  house  the  better.  For  your  own  sake 
and  for  the  sake  of  those  about  you,  you  need  not  say 
one  word  of  this  to  Enid  Henson." 

Littimer  promised  meekly  enough.  With  those  eyes 
blazing  upon  him  he  would  have  promised  anything. 
We  shall  see  presently  what  a  stupendous  terror  Henson 
had  over  the  younger  man,  and  in  what  way  all  the 
sweetness  and  savour  of  life  was  being  crushed  out  of 
him. 

He  closed  the  door  behind  him,  and  immediately 
Henson  sat  up  in  bed.  He  reached  for  his  handkerchief 
and  wiped  the  big  beads  from  his  forehead. 

"  So  the  danger  has  come  at  last,"  he  muttered.  "  I 
am  face  to  face  with  it,  and  I  knew  I  should  be.  Ha- 
therly  Bell  is  not  the  man  to  quietly  lie  down  under  a 
2loud  like  that.  The  man  has  brains,  and  patience, 
and  indomitable  courage.  Now,  does  he  suspect  that 
I  have  any  hand  in  the  business  ?  I  must  see  him  when 
my  nerves  are  stronger  and  try  and  get  at  the  truth. 
If  he  goes  to  Lord  Littimer  with  that  picture  he  shakes 
my  power  and  my  position  perilously.  What  a  fool  I 
was  not  to  get  it  away.  But,  then,  I  only  escaped  from 
the  Brighton  police  in  those  days  by  the  skin  of  my 
teeth.  And  they  had  followed  me  from  Huddersfield 
like  those  cursed  bloodhounds  here.     I  wonder " 

He  paused,  as  the  brilliant  outline  of  some  cunning 
scheme  occurred  to  him.  A  thin,  cruel  smile  crept  over 
his  lips.  Never  had  he  been  in  a  tight  place  yet  without 
discovering  a  loophole  of  escape  cdmost  before  he  had 
Been  the  trap. 

A  fit  of  noiseless  laughter  shook  him. 

"  Splendid,"  he  whispered.  "  Worthy  of  Machiavelli 
himself !  Provided  always  that  I  can  get  there  first. 
If  I  could  only  see  Bell's  face  afterwards,  hear  Littimer 
ordering  him  off  the  premises.  The  only  question  is, 
am  I  up  to  seeing  the  thing  through  ?  " 


CHAPTERJXXIV. 

ENID     LEAKNS     SOMETHIHC 

Reginald  Henson  struggled  out  of  bed  and  into  hii 
clothing  as  best  he  could.  He  wps  terribly  weak  and 
shaky,  far  more  weak  than  he  had  imagined  himself  to 
be,  but  he  was  in  danger  now,  and  his  indomitable 
will-power  pulled  him  through.  What  a  fool  Littimer 
had  been  to  tell  him  so  much  merely  so  that  he  might 
triumph  over  his  powcrtul  ioe  for  a  few  minutes.  But 
Henson  was  planning  a  little  scheme  by  which  he  in- 
tended to  repay  the  young  man  tenfold.  He  had  no 
doubt  as  to  the  willingness  of  his  tool. 

He  took  a  bottle  of  brandy  from  a  drawer  and  helped 
himself  to  a  liberal  dose.  Walker  had  expressly  for- 
bidden anything  of  the  kind,  but  it  was  no  time  for 
nice  medical  obedience.  The  grateful  stimulant  had  its 
immediate  effect.  Then  Henson  rang  the  bell,  and  after 
a  time  Williams  appeared  tardily. 

"  You  are  to  go  down  to  Barnes  and  ask  him  to  send 
a  cab  here  as  soon  as  possible,"  Henson  said.  "  I  have 
to  go  to  London  by  the  first  train  in  the  morning." 

Williams  nodded,  with  his  mouth  wide  open.  He 
was  astonished  and  not  a  little  alarmed  at  the  strength 
and  vitality  of  this  man.  And  only  a  few  hours  before 
Williams  had  learnt  with  deep  satisfaction  that  Henson 
would  be  confined  to  his  bed  for  some  days. 

Henson  dressed  at  length  and  packed  a  small  port- 
manteau.    But  he  had  to  sit  on  his  bed  for  sonie  little 

i6o 


ENID  LEARNS  SOMETHING.  161 

time  and  sip  a  further  dose  of  brandy  before  he  could 
move  farther.  After  all  there  was  no  hurry.  A  full 
hour  was  sure  to  elapse  before  the  leisurely  Barnes 
brought  the  cab  to  the  lodge-gates. 

Hanson  crept  downstairs  at  length  and  trod  his  cathke 
wa}  to  the  library.  Once  there  he  proceeded  tc  make 
a  minute  inspection  of  the  telephone.  He  turned  the 
handle  just  the  fragment  of  an  inch  and  a  queer  smile 
came  over  his  face.  Then  he  crept  as  silently  upstairs, 
opened  the  window  of  the  bathroom  quietly,  and  slipped 
on  to  the  leads.  There  were  a  couple  of  insulators  here, 
against  the  wire  of  one  of  which  Henson  tapped  his 
knuckles  gently.  The  wire  gave  back  an  answenng 
twang.     The  other  jangled  hmp  and  loose. 

"  One  of  the  wires  cut,"  Henson  muttered.  "  I  ex- 
pected as  much.  Madame  Enid  is  getting  a  deal  too 
clever.  I  suppose  this  is  some  suggestion  of  her  very 
astute  friend  David  Steel.  Well,  I  have  given  Mr. 
Steel  one  lesson  in  minding  his  own  business,  and  if  he 
interferes  further  I  shall  have  to  give  him  another.  He 
will  be  in  gaol  before  long  charged  with  attempted 
murder  and  robbery  with  violence,  and  so  exit  Steel. 
After  that  the  girl  will  be  perhaps  chary  of  seeking 
outside  assistance.  And  this  will  be  the  third  I  have 
had  to  get  rid  of.  Heavens  !  How  feeble  I  feel,  how 
weak  I  am.  And  yet  I  must  go  through  this  thing 
now." 

He  staggered  into  the  house  again  and  dropped  into 
a  chair.  There  was  a  loud  buzzing  in  his  ears,  so  that 
he  could  hardly  hear  the  murmur  of  voices  in  the  drawing- 
room  below.  Tliis  was  annoying,  because  Henson  liked 
to  hear  everything  that  other  folks  said.  Then  he 
drojiped  off  into  a  kind  of  dreamy  state,  coming  back 
presently  to  the  consciousness  that  he  had  fainted. 

Meanwhile  Frank  Littimer  had  joined  Enid  in  the 
drawirif^'-room.  The  house  w;is  perfectly  quiet  and  still 
by  this  tijiie  ;  *he  dust-cloud  hung  on  the  air  and  caused 
the  lamps  to  burn  with  a  spitting  blue  flame.  Enid's 
face  looked  deadly  pale  against  her  black  dress. 

"  So  you  have  been  seeing  Reginald,"  she  said.  "  Why 
—why  did  you  do  it  ?  " 


i63  THE   CRIMSON   BLIND. 

"  I  didn't  mean  to,"  Frank  muttered.  "  I  never  in- 
tended him  to  know  that  I  had  been  in  the  house  &t 
an.  But  I  was  passing  his  room  and  he  heard  me. 
He  seemed  to  know  my  footsteps.  I  beheve  if  two 
mice  ran  by  him  twice  in  the  darkness  he  could  tell  the 
difference  between  them." 

"  You  had  an  interesting  conversation.  What  did 
he  want  to  use  the  tele{)hone  for  ?  " 

"  I  don't  know.  I  tried  to  manipulate  it  lor  him, 
but  the  instrument  was  out  of  order." 

"  I  know.  I  had  a  pretty  shrewd  idea  what  our 
cousin  was  going  to  do.  You  see,  I  was  listening  at 
the  door.  Not  a  very  ladylike  thing  to  do,  but  one 
must  fight  Henson  with  his  own  tools.  When  I  heard 
him  ask  for  the  telephone  directory  I  ran  out  and  nipped 
one  of  the  wires  by  the  bathroom.  Frank,  it  would  have 
been  far  wiser  if  you  hadn't  come." 

Littimer  nodded  gloomily.  There  was  something  like 
tears  in  his  eyes. 

"  I  know  it,"  he  said.  "  I  hate  the  place  and 
its  dreadful  associations.  But  I  wanted  to  see 
Chris  first.  Did  she  say  anything  about  me  before — 
before " 

"  My  dear  boy,  she  loved  you  always.  She  knew  and 
understood,  and  was  sorry.  And  she  never,  never  forgot 
the  last  time  that  you  were  in  the  house." 

Frank  Littimer  glanced  across  the  room  with  a  shudder. 
His  eyes  dwelt  with  fascination  on  the  overturned  table 
with  its  broken  china  and  glass  and  wilted  flowers  in  the 
comer. 

"  It  is  not  the  kind  of  thing  to  forget,"  he  said,  hoaresly. 
"  I  can  see  my  father  now " 

"  Don't,"  E;iid  shuddered,  "  don't  recall  it.  And  your 
mother  has  never  been  the  same  since.  I  doubt  if  she 
wiU  ever  be  the  same  again.  From  that  day  to  this 
nothing  has  ever  been  touched  in  the  house.  And 
Henson  comes  here  when  he  can  and  makes  our  lives 
hideous  to  us." 

"  I  fancy  I  shook  him  up  to-night,"  Littimer  said, 
with  subdmxl  triumjjh.  "  He  seemed  to  shudder  when 
I  told  him  that  T  had  found  Van  Sneck." 


ENID  LEARNS  SOMETHING.  163 

Enid  started  from  her  chair.  Her  eyes  were  shining 
with  the  sudden  brilliancy  of  unveiled  stars. 

"  You  have  found  Van  Sneck !  "  she  whispered. 
"  Where  ?  " 

"  Why,  in  the  Brighton  Hospital.  Do  you  mean  to 
say  that  you  don't  know  about  it,  that  you  don't  know 
that  the  man  found  so  mysteriously  in  Mr.  David  Steel's 
house  and  Van  Sneck  are  one  and  the  same  person  ?  " 

Enid  resumed  her  seat  again.  She  was  calm  enough 
now. 

"  It  had  not  occurred  to  me,"  she  said.  "  Indeed, 
I  don't  know  why  it  should  have  done.  Sooner  or 
later,  of  course,  I  should  have  suggested  to  Mr.  Steel 
to  try  and  identify  the  man,  but " 

"  My  dear  Enid,  what  on  earth  are  you  talking 
about  ?  " 

"  Nonsense,"  Enid  said,  in  some  confusion.  "  Things 
you  don't  understand  at  present,  and  tilings  you  are 
not  going  to  understand  just  yet.  I  read  in  the  papers 
that  the  man  was  quite  a  stranger  to  Mr.  Steel.  But 
are  you  certain  that  it  is  Van  Sneck  ?  " 

"  Absolutely  certain.  I  went  to  the  hospital  and 
identified  him." 

"  Then  there  is  no  more  to  be  said  on  that  point. 
But  you  were  foolish  to  tell  Reginald." 

"  Not  a  bit  of  it.  Why,  Henson  has  known  it  all 
along.  You  needn't  get  excited.  He  is  a  deep  fellow, 
and  nobody  knows  better  than  he  how  to  disguise  his 
feelings.  All  the  same,  he  was  just  mad  to  know  what 
I  had  discovered,  you  could  see  it  in  his  face.  Reginald 
Henson " 

Littimer  paused,  opon-mouthed,  for  Henson,  dressed 
and  wrapped  ready  for  the  journey,  had  come  quietly 
into  the  drawing-room.  The  deadly  pallor  of  his  face, 
the  white  bandages  about  his  throat,  only  served  to 
render  his  appearance  more  emphatic  and  imposing. 
He  stood  there  with  the  halo  of  dust  about  him,  looking 
like  the  evil  genius  of  the  place. 

"  I  fear  I  startled  you,"  he  said,  with  a  sardonic  smile. 
"  And  I  fear  that  in  the  stillness  of  the  place  I  have 
overheard  a  great  part  of  your  conversation.     Frank, 


i64  THE   CRIMSON   BLIND. 

I  must  congratulate  you  on  your  discretion,  so  far. 
But  seeing  that  you  are  young  and  impressionable,  I 
am  going  to  move  temptation  out  of  your  way.  Enid, 
I  am  going  on  a  journey." 

"  I  trust  that  it  is  a  long  one,  and  that  it  will  detain 
you  for  a  considerable  period,"  Enid  said,  coldly. 

"  It  is  neither  far,  nor  is  it  likely  to  keep  me,"  IIr>nson 
smiled.  "  Williams  has  just  come  in  with  the  inlorma- 
tion  that  the  cab  awaits  me  at  the  gate.     Now,  then  !  " 

The  last  words  were  flung  at  Littimer  with  con- 
temptuous command.  The  hot  blood  flared  into  the 
young  man's  face.     Enid's  eyes  flashed. 

"  If  my  cousin  hkes  to  stay  here,"  she  said,  "  why " 

"  He  is  coming  with  me,"  Henson  said,  hoarsely. 
"  Do  you  understand  ?  With  me  !  And  if  I  like  to 
drag  him — or  you,  my  pretty  lady — to  the  end  of  the 
world  or  the  gates  of  perdition,  you  will  have  to  come. 
Now,  get  along  before  I  compel  you." 

Enid  stood  with  fury  in  her  eyes  and  clenched  hands 
as  Littimer  slunk  away  out  of  the  house,  Henson  fol- 
lowing between  his  victim  and  Williams.  He  said  no 
words  till  the  lodge-gates  were  past  and  the  growl  of 
the  dogs  had  died  into  the  distance. 

"  We  are  going  to  Littimer  Castle,"  said  Henson. 

"  Not  there,"  Littimer  groaned — "  not  there,  Henson  ! 
I  couldn't — I  couldn't  go  to  that  place  !  " 

Henson  pointed  towards  the  cab. 

"  Littimer  or  perdition  !  "  he  said.  "  You  don't  waat 
to  go  to  the  latter  just  yet  ?    Jump  in,  then  1 " 


CHAPTER   XXT* 

LITTIMER   CASTLB. 

If  yon  had  asked  the  first  five  people  on  the  Littiraet 
Estate  what  they  thought  of  the  lord  of  the  soil  you 
would  have  had  a  different  answer  from  every  one.  One 
woman  would  have  said  that  a  kinder  and  better  man 
never  lived  ;  her  neighbour  would  have  declared  Lord 
Littimer  to  be  as  hard  as  the  nether  millstone.  Farmer 
George  would  rate  him  a  jolly  good  fellow,  and  teU  how 
he  would  sit  in  the  kitchen  over  a  mug  of  ale  ;  whilst 
Farmer  John  swore  at  his  landlord  as  a  hard-fisted, 
grasping  miser  devoid  of  the  bowels  of  compassion. 

At  the  end  of  an  hour  you  would  be  utterly  bewildered, 
not  knowing  what  to  believe,  and  prepared  to  set  the 
whole  village  down  as  a  lot  of  gossips  who  seemed  to 
mind  everything  but  its  own  business.  And,  perhaps. 
Lord  Littimer  might  come  riding  through  on  his  big 
black  horse,  small,  lithe,  brown  as  mahogany,  and  with 
an  eye  piercing  as  a  diamond-drill.  One  day  he  looked 
almost  boyishly  young,  there  would  be  a  smile  on  his 
tanned  face.  And  then  another  day  he  would  be  bent 
in  the  saddle,  huddled  up,  wizeneci,  an  old,  old  man, 
crushed  with  the  weight  of  years  and  sorrow. 

Iln  sooth  he  was  a  man  of  moods  and  contradictions, 
changeable  as  an  April  sky,  and  none  the  less  quick- 
tempered and  hard  because  he  knew  that  everybody 
was  terribly  afraid  of  him.  And  he  had  a  tongue,  too, 
a   lashing,   cutting    tongue    that    burnt    and    bUstered, 

I6S 


i66  THE  CRIMSON   BLIND. 

Sometimes  he  would  be  quite  meek  and  angry  noder 
the  reproaches  of  the  vicar,  and  yet  the  same  day  history 
records  it  that  he  got  off  his  horse  and  administered  a 
sound  thrashing  to  the  village  poacher.  Sometimes  he 
got  the  best  of  the  vicar,  and  sometimes  that  worthy 
man  scored.  They  were  good  friends,  these  two.  though 
the  vicar  never  swerved  in  his  fealty  to  Lady  Littimer, 
whose  cause  he  always  championed.  But  nobody 
seemed  to  know  anything  about  that  dark  scandal. 
They  knew  that  there  had  been  a  dreadful  scene  at  the 
castle  seven  years  before,  and  that  Lady  Littimer  and 
her  son  had  left  never  to  return.  Lady  Littimer  was 
in  a  madhouse  somewhere,  they  said,  and  the  son  was 
a  wanderer  on  the  face  of  the  earth.  And  when  Lord 
Littimer  died  every  penny  of  the  property,  the  castle 
included,  would  go  to  her  ladyship's  nephew,  Mr. 
Reginald  Henson. 

In  spite  of  the  great  cloud  that  hung  over  the  family 
Lord  Littimer  did  not  seem  to  have  changed.  He  was 
just  a  little  more  caustic  than  ever,  his  tongue  a  little 
sharper.  The  serv^ants  could  have  told  a  different  story, 
a  story  of  dark  moods  and  days  when  the  bitterness  of 
the  shadow  of  death  lay  on  the  face  of  their  master. 
Few  men  could  carry  their  grief  better,  and  because 
Littimer  carried  his  grief  so  well  he  suffered  the  more. 
We  shall  see  what  the  sorrow  was  in  time. 

There  are  few  more  beautiful  places  in  England  than 
Littimer  Castle.  The  house  stood  on  a  kind  of  natural 
plateau  with  many  woods  behind,  a  trout  stream  ran 
clean  past  the  big  flight  of  steps  leading  to  the  hall, 
below  were  terrace  after  terrace  of  hanging  gardens, 
and  to  the  left  a  sloping,  ragged  drop  of  200ft.  into  the 
sea.  To  the  right  lay  a  magnificently-timbered  park, 
with  a  herd  of  real  wild  deer — {v.rhaps  the  only  herd 
of  this  kind  in  the  country.  When  the  sun  shone  on 
the  grey  walls  they  looked  as  if  they  had  been  painted 
by  some  cunning  hand,  so  softly  were  the  greys  and 
reds  and  blues  blended. 

Inside  the  place  was  a  veritable  art  gallery.  There 
were  hundreds  of  pictures  and  engravings  there.  All 
round  the  grand  staircase  ran  a  long,  deep  corridor. 


LITTIMER   CASTLE.  167 

filled  with  pictures.  There  were  alcoves  here  fitted  up 
as  sitting-rooms,  and  in  most  of  them  some  gem  or 
another  was  hung.  When  the  full  flood  of  electric  lignt 
was  turned  on  at  night  the  effect  was  almost  dazzling. 
There  were  few  pictures  in  the  gallery  without  a 
history. 

Lord  Littimer  had  many  hobbies,  but  not  one  that 
interested  him  like  this.  There  were  hundreds  of  rare 
birds  shot  by  him  in  different  parts  of  the  world  ;  the 
corridors  and  floors  were  covered  by  skins,  the  spoil  of 
his  rifle  ;  here  and  there  a  stuffed  bear  pranced  start- 
Ungly ;  but  the  pictures  and  prints  were  the  great 
amusement  of  his  lordship's  lonely  life. 

He  passed  along  the  corridor  now  towards  the  great 
oriel  window  at  the  end.  A  brilliant  sunlight  filled  the 
place  with  shafts  of  golden  and  blue  and  purple  as  it 
came  filtered  through  the  stained  glass.  At  a  table  in 
the  window  a  girl  sat  working  a  typewriter.  She  might 
have  passed  for  beautiful,  only  her  hair  was  banded 
down  in  hideously  Puritan  fashion  on  each  side  of  her 
delicate,  oval  face,  her  eyes  were  shielded  by  spectacles. 
But  they  were  lovely,  steady,  courageous  blue  eyes,  as 
Littimer  did  not  fail  to  observe.  Also  he  had  not  failed 
to  note  that  his  new  secretary  could  do  very  well  without 
the  glasses. 

The  typewriter  and  secretary  business  was  a  new 
whim  of  Littimer's.  He  wanted  an  assistant  to  cata- 
logue and  classify  his  pictures  and  prints,  and  he  had 
told  the  vicar  so.  He  wanted  a  girl  who  wasn't  a  fool, 
a  girl  who  could  amuse  him  and  wouldn't  be  afraid  of 
him,  and  he  thought  he  would  have  an  American.  To 
which  the  vicar  responded  that  the  whole  thing  was 
nonsense,  but  he  had  heard  of  a  Boston  girl  in  England 
who  had  a  passion  for  that  kind  of  thing  and  who  was 
looking  for  a  situation  of  the  kind  in  a  genuine  old  house 
for  a  year  or  so.  The  vicar  added  that  he  had  not  seen 
the  young  lady,  but  he  could  obtain  her  address.  A 
reply  came  in  due  course,  a  reply  that  so  pleased  the 
impetuous  Earl  that  he  engaged  the  applicant  on  the 
spot.  And  now  she  had  been  just  two  hours  in  the 
house. 


i6«  THE   CRIMSON   BLIND. 

"  Well/'  LittJmer  cried,  "  and  how  have  you  been 
getting  on  ?  " 

Miss  Christabcl  Lee  looked  up,  smilingly. 

"  I  am  gettinc;  on  very  well  indeed,"  she  said.  **  You 
see,  I  have  made  a  study  of  this  kind  of  thing  all  my 
hfetime,  and  most  of  your  pictures  are  like  old  friends 
to  me.  Do  you  know,  I  fancy  that  you  and  I  are  going 
to  manage  very  well  together  ?  " 

"  Oh,  do  you  ?  They  say  I  am  pretty  formidable  at 
times." 

"  I  shan't  mind  that  a  bit.  You  see,  my  father  was 
a  man  with  a  villainous  temper.  But  a  woman  can 
always  get  the  better  of  a  bad-tempered  man  unless  he 
happens  to  be  one  of  the  lower  classes  who  uses  liis  boots. 
If  he  is  a  gentleman  you  have  him  utterly  at  your  mercy. 
Have  you  a  sharp  tongue  ?  " 

"  I  flatter  myself  I  can  be  pretty  blistering  on  occa- 
sions," Littimer  said,  grimly. 

"  How  delightful  !  So  can  I.  You  and  I  will  have 
some  famous  battles  later  on.  Only  I  warn  you  that 
I  never  lose  my  temper,  which  gives  me  a  tremendous 
advantage.  I  haven't  been  very  well  lately,  so  you 
must  be  nice  to  me  for  a  week  or  two." 

Littimer  smiled  and  nodded.  The  grim  lord  of  the 
castle  was  not  accustomed  to  this  kind  of  thing,  and  he 
was  telling  himself  that  he  rather  hked  it. 

"  And  now  show  me  the  Rembrandt,"  Miss  Lee  said, 
impatiently. 

Littimer  led  the  way  to  a  distant  alcove  lighted  from 
the  side  by  a  latticed  window.     There  was  only  one 

f)icture  in  the  excellent  light  there,  and  that  was  the 
amous  Rembrandt  engraving.  Littimer's  eyes  lighted 
up  quite  lovingly  as  they  rested  upon  it,  The  Florentine 
frame  was  hung  so  low  that  Miss  Lee  could  bring  her 
face  on  a  level  with  it. 

"  This  is  tlie  picture  that  was  stolen  from  you  ?  "  she 
asked. 

"  Yes,  that's  the  thing  that  there  was  all  the  fuss 
about.  It  made  a  great  stir  at  the  time.  But  I  don't 
expect  that  it  will  happen  again." 

Why  not  ?  "  Miss  Lee  asked.     "  When  an  attempt 


LITTIMER   CASTLE,  169 

of  that  sort  is  made  it  is  usually  followed  by  another, 
sometimes  after  the  lapse  of  years.  Anybod}'  getting 
through  that  window  could  easily  get  the  frame  from 
its  two  nails  and  take  out  the  paper." 

"  Do  you  think  so  ?  "  Littimer  asked,  uneasily. 

"  I  am  certain  of  it.  Take  my  advice  and  make  it 
secure.  The  panels  behind  are  hard  wood — thick  black 
oak.  Lord  Littimer,  I  am  going  to  get  four  brass- 
headed  stays  and  drive  them  through  some  of  the  open 
ornamental  work  into  the  panel  so  as  to  make  the  picture 
quite  secure.     It  is  an  iron  frame,  I  suppose." 

"  Wrought-iron,  gilt,"  said  Littimer.  "  Yes,  one 
could  easily  drive  four  brass-headed  stays  through  the 
open  work  and  make  the  thing  safe.     I'll  have  it  seen  to." 

But  Miss  Lee  insisted  that  there  was  no  time  like  the 
present.  She  had  discov.vcd  that  Littimer  had  an  ex- 
cellent carpenter's  shop  on  the  premises  ;  indeed,  she 
admitted  to  being  no  mean  performer  with  the  lathe 
herself.  She  flitted  down  the  stairs  hght  as  thistle- 
down. 

"  A  charming  girl !  "  Littimer  said,  cynically.  "  I 
wonder  why  she  came  to  this  dull  hole  ?  A  quarrel 
with  her  young  man,  perhaps.     If  I  were  a  young  man 

myself  I  might But  women  are  all  the  same.     I 

should  be  a  happier  man  if  I  had  never  trusted  one. 
If " 

The  face  darkened  ;  a  heavy  scowl  lined  his  brows 
as  he  paced  up  and  down.  Christabel  came  back  pre- 
sently with  hammer  and  some  brass-headed  stays  in  her 
hand. 

"  Don't  utterly  destroy  the  frame,"  Littimer  said, 
resignedly.  "  It  is  reputed  to  be  Quentin  Matsy's  work, 
and  I  had  it  cut  to  its  present  fashion.  I'll  go  to  the 
end  of  the  gallery  till  the  execution's  over." 

"  On  the  contrary,"  Miss  Lee  said,  Grmly,  "  you  will 
•tay  where  you  are  told." 

A  little  to  his  own  surj^rise  Littimer  remained.  He 
saw  the  nails  driven  firmly  in  and  finished  off  with  a 
punch  so  that  there  might  be  no  danger  of  hammering 
the  exquisitely  wrought  frame.  Miss  Lee  stood  regard- 
ing her  work  with  a  suggestion  of  pride. 


170  THE   CRIMSON   BLIND. 

"  There,"  she  said,  "  I  flatter  myself  a  carpenter  conld 
have  done  no  bettor." 

"  You  don't  know  our  typical  carpenter,"  Littimer 
said.  "  Here  is  Tredwell  with  a  telegram.  For  Miss 
Lee  ?  I  hope  it  isn't  an  intimation  that  some  relative 
has  died  and  left  you  a  fortune.  At  least,  if  it  is,  you 
mustn't  go  until  we've  had  one  of  those  quarrels  you 
promised  me." 

Christabel  glanced  at  the  telegram  and  slipped  it 
into  her  pocket.  Tliere  were  just  a  few  words  in  the 
telegram  that  would  have  been  unintelligible  to  the 
ordinary  understanding.  The  girl  did  not  even  com- 
prehend, but  Littimer's  eyes  were  upon  her,  and  the 
cipher  had  to  keep  for  a  time.  Littimer  walked  away 
at  an  intimation  that  his  steward  desired  to  see  him. 

Instantly  the  girl's  manner  changed.  She  glanced 
at  the  Rembrandt  with  a  shrewd  smile  that  meant 
something  beyond  a  mere  act  of  prudence  well  done. 
Then  she  went  down  to  the  library  and  began  an  eager 
search  for  a  certain  book.  She  found  it  at  length,  the 
"  David  Copperfield "  in  the  "  Charles  Dickens " 
edition  of  the  great  novelist's  works.  For  the  next 
hour  or  so  she  was  flitting  over  the  pages  with  the  cipher 
telegram  spread  out  before  her.  A  little  later  and  the 
few  jumbled,  meaningless  words  were  coded  out  into  a 
lengthy  message.  Christabel  read  them  over  a  few 
times,  then  with  the  aid  of  a  vesta  she  reduced  the  whole 
thing,  telegram  and  all,  to  tinder,  which  she  carefully 
crushed  and  flung  out  of  the  window. 

She  looked  away  down  the  terrace,  she  glanced  at 
the  dappled  deer  knee-deep  in  the  bracken,  she  caught 
a  glimpse  of  the  smiling  sea,  and  her  face  saddened  for 
a  moment. 

"  How  lovely  it  all  is,"  she  murmured.  "  How  ex- 
quisitely beautiful  and  how  utterly  sad  !  And  to  think 
that  if  I  possessed  the  magician's  wand  for  a  moment 
I  could  make  everything  smile  again.  He  is  a  good 
man — a  better  man  than  anybody  takes  him  to  be. 
Under  his  placid,  cynical  surface  he  conceals  a  deal  of 
suffenng.     Well,  we  shall  see." 

She   replaced   the   "  Copperfield "   on   the   shelf  and 


LITTIMER   CASTLE.  171 

turned  to  go  again.  In  the  hall  she  met  Lord  Littinier 
dressed  for  riding.     He  smiled  as  she  passed. 

"  Au  revoir  till  dinner-time,"  he  said.  "  I've  got  to 
go  and  see  a  tenant.  Oh,  yes,  I  shall  certainly  expect 
the  pleasure  of  your  company  to  dinner.  And  now  that 
the  Rembrandt " 

"It  is  safe  for  the  afternoon,"  Christabel  laughed. 
"  It  is  generally  when  the  family  are  dining  that  the 
burglar  has  his  busy  time.    A  pleasant  ride  to  you.** 


OIAPTER   XXVL 

AN     UNEXPECTED     GUBST.I 

'Lord  Littimer  returned,  as  he  declared,  with  the  sphtti 
and  appetite  of  a  schoolboy.  All  the  same,  ha  did  not 
tor  one  moment  abandon  his  usual  critical  analysis.  He 
rattled  on  gaily,  but  he  was  studying  his  guest  all  the 
same.  She  might  have  been  the  typical  American  lady 
student ;  but  he  was  not  blind  to  the  fact  that  the  plain 
muslin  and  lace  frock  she  wore  was  made  in  Pans  or 
that  her  manners  and  style  must  have  been  picked  up 
in  the  best  society.  She  sat  there  under  the  shaded 
lights  and  behind  the  bank  of  flowers  like  as  to  the 
manner  bom,  and  her  accent  was  only  sufi&ciently 
American  to  render  her  conversation  piquant. 

"  You  have  always  been  used  to  this  class  of  life  ?  ** 
Littimer  asked. 

"  There  you  are  quite  mistaken,"  Christabel  said, 
coolly.  "  For  the  last  few  years  my  existence  has  been 
anything  but  a  bed  of  roses.  And  your  remark,  my 
lord,  savours  slightly  of  impertinent  curiosity.  I  might 
as  well  ask  you  why  your  family  is  not  here. ' 

"  We  agree  to  differ,"  Littimer  responded.  "  I  re- 
collect it  caused  me  a  great  deal  of  annoyance  at  the 
time.  And  my  son  chose  to  take  his  mother's  part. 
You  knew  I  had  a  son  ?  " 

"  Yes,"  said  Christabel,  without  looking  up  from  the 
peach  she  was  peeling.     "  I  have  met  hirn." 

"  Indeed.  And  what  opinion  did  you  form  of  my 
•on,  may  I  ask  ?  " 


AN  UNEXPECTED  GUEST;  173 

•*  Well,  I  rather  liked  him.  He  seemed  to  me  to  b« 
•uffering  from  some  great  trouble,  and  trouble  I  am 
sure  that  was  not  of  his  own  creating." 

'*  Which  means  to  say  you  feel  rather  sorry  for  Frank. 
But  when  you  say  the  trouble  was  not  of  his  own  creat- 
ing you  are  entirely  mistaken.  It  is  not  a  nice  tiling 
to  say,  Miss  Lee,  but  my  son  was  an  utter  and  most 
unmitigated  young  scoundrel.  If  he  came  here  he 
would  be  ordered  out  of  the  house.  So  far  as  I  am 
concerned,  I  have  no  son  at  all.  He  sides  with  his 
mother,  and  his  mother  has  a  considerable  private  for- 
tune of  her  own.  Where  she  is  at  the  present  moment 
I  have  no  idea.  Nor  do  I  care.  Seems  odd,  does  it 
not,  that  I  should  have  been  very  fond  of  that  woman 
at  one  time,  just  as  it  seems  odd  to  think  that  I  should 
have  once  been  fond  of  treacle  tart  ?  " 

Littimer  spoke  evenly  and  quietly,  with  his  eyes  full 
upon  the  girl.  He  was  deceiving  himself,  but  he  was 
not  deceiving  her  for  a  moment.  His  callousness  seemed 
to  be  all  the  more  marked  because  the  servants  were  in 
the  room.  But  Christabel  could  see  clearly  what  an 
effort  it  was. 

"  You  love  your  wife  still,"  she  said,  so  low  that  only 
Littimer  heard.  His  eyes  flashed,  his  face  flamed  with 
a  sudden  spasm  of  passion. 

"  Are  we  to  quarrel  so  early  as  this  ?  "  he  whispered. 

"  I  never  quarrel,"  Christal)el  said,  coolly  ;  "  I  leave 
my  antagonist  to  do  that.  But  I  have  met  your  son, 
and  I  hke  him.  He  may  be  weak,  but  he  is  a  gentle- 
man. You  have  made  a  mistake,  and  some  day 
you  will  be  sorry  for  it.  Do  you  grow  those  orchids 
yourself  ?  " 

Littimer  laughed,  with  no  sign  of  anger  remaining. 
All  the  same,  Christabel  could  see  that  his  tliin  brown 
hand  was  shaking.  She  noticed  the  lines  that  pain  had 
given  under  those  shrewd  black  eyes. 

"  You  must  see  my  orcliids,"  he  said.  "  Most  of  the 
specimens  I  obtained  myself.  They  tell  me  I  have  at 
least  three  niiique  kinds.  And  now,  if  you  will  permit 
me,  I  am  going  to  smoke.  Tl)c  drawing-room  is  at  your 
('isposal,    though   I   rarely   enter   it   myself.     I   always 


174  THE  CRIMSON  BLIND. 

retire  at  eleven,  but  that  need  not  bind  you  in  any  way. 
It  has  been  altogether  a  most  delightful  evening.  ' 

But  Christabel  did  not  dally  long  in  the  drawing- 
room.  As  she  went  upstairs  and  along  the  corridor 
she  heard  the  snapping  of  the  electric  lights  all  over  the 
house  as  the  servants  were  preparing  to  retire.  She 
paused  just  a  moment  in  the  alcove  where  the  precious 
Rembrandt  was  and  located  carefully  the  position  of 
the  switch  there.  Then  she  retired  to  her  own  room, 
where  she  changed  her  dress  for  a  simple  black  gown. 
A  big  clock  somewhere  was  striking  twelve  as  she  finished. 
She  looked  out  of  her  door.  The  whole  house  was  in 
darkness,  the  silence  seemed  to  chng  like  a  curtain. 

She  paused  for  a  moment  as  if  afraid  to  take  the 
next  step.  If  it  was  fear,  she  shook  it  aside  resolutely 
and  crept  into  the  corridor.  She  carried  something 
shining  in  her  hands — something  that  gleamed  in  the 
dim,  uncertain  light  from  the  big  window.  She  stood 
just  for  an  instant  with  a  feeling  that  somebody  W£ls 
climbing  up  the  ivy  outside  the  house.  She  felt  her 
way  along  until  she  came  to  the  alcove  containing  the 
Rembrandt  and  then  she  stopped.  Her  hand  shd  along 
the  wall  till  her  fingers  touched  the  switch  of  the  electric 
light. 

She  stood  for  a  long  time  there  perfectly  motionless. 
It  was  a  still  night  outside,  and  there  was  nothing  to 
account  for  the  rustling  of  the  ivy  leaves.  The  rattling 
came  in  jerks,  spasmodically,  stopping  every  now  and 
then  and  resuming  again.  It  was  no  longer  a  matter  of 
imagination,  it  was  a  certainty.  Somebody  was  climbing 
up  the  ivy  to  the  window. 

Leaning  eagerly  forward,  Christabel  could  hear  the 
sound  of  laboured  breathing.  She  seemed  to  see  the 
outUne  of  an  arm  outside,  she  could  catch  the  quick 
rattle  of  the  sash,  she  could  almost  see  a  bent  wire 
crooked  through  the  beaded  edges  of  the  casement. 
Yes,  she  was  right.  The  window  swung  noiselessly 
back  and  a  figure  stood  poised  on  the  ledge  outside. 

With  a  quick  breath  and  a  fluttering  of  her  heart 
Christabel  felt  for  the  switch. 

"  It  will  be  all  right,"  she  murmured  ;   "the  other  on« 


AN   UNEXPECTED  GUEST-  175 

will  fancy  that  the  light  is  necessary.     Courage,  my  dear 
courage,  and  the  game  is  yours.     Ah  !  " 

The  intruder  dropped  inside  and  pulled  the  window 
behind  him.  Evidently  he  was  on  familiar  ground, 
though  he  seemed  to  be  seeking  an  unfamiliar  object. 
Christabei's  hand  stole  along  to  the  switch  ;  there  was 
a  click,  and  the  alcove  was  bathed  in  brilliant  light. 
The  intruder  shrank  back  with  a  startled  cry.  He 
rubbed  his  dazed  eyes. 

"  Why  not  come  in  through  the  front  door,  Mr. 
Littimer  ?  "  Christabel  drawled,  coolly. 

Frank  Littimer  had  no  words  for  a  moment.  He 
was  wondering  who  this  woman  was  and  what  she  was 
doing  here.  American,  evidently,  by  her  accent,  and 
also  by  the  revolver  that  she  handled  so  assuredly. 

"  That  is  the  way  you  used  to  enter,"  Christabel  pro- 
ceeded, "  when  you  had  been  out  contrary  to  parental 
instructions  and  the  keepers  expected  to  have  a  fracas 
with  the  poachers.  Your  iiodroom  being  exactly  oppo- 
site, detection  was  no  easy  matter.  Your  bedroom 
has  never  been  touched  since  you  left.  The  key  is  still 
outside  the  door.     Will  you  kindly  enter  it  ?  " 

"  But "  Frank  stammered.     "  But  I  assure  you 

that  I  cannot " 

"  Take  the  Rembrandt  away.  You  cannot.  The 
frame  is  of  iron,  and  it  is  fastened  to  the  wall.  It  would 
take  an  experienced  carpenter  quite  a  long  time  to 
remove  it.  Therefore  your  mission  has  failed.  It  is 
very  annoying,  because  it  j)uts  the  otiier  man  in  a  very 
awkward  position.  The  position  is  going  to  be  still 
more  awkward  presently.     Please  go  to  your  room." 

"  My  dear  lady,  if  my  father  knows  that  I  am  in  the 
house " 

"  He  is  not  going  to  know  that  you  are  in  the  house, 
at  least  not  for  some  little  time.  And  when  you  see 
him  it  will  be  better  not  to  say  more  than  is  necessary. 
Later  on  you  will  recognise  what  a  friend  I  am  to  you." 

"  You  are  not  showing  it  at  present,"  Littimer  said, 
desperately. 

'  The  patient  rarely  sees  any  virtue  in  his  medicine. 
}iovf,  please,  go  to  your  room.     I  can  hear  the  other 


176  THE  CRIMSON  BLIND, 

man  muttering  and  getting  anxious  do\vn  below.  NoW 
if  you  approach  that  window  again  I  am  pretty  certain 
that  my  revolver  will  go  off.  You  see,  I  am  an  Ameri- 
can, and  we  are  so  careless  with  such  weapons.  Please 
go  to  your  room  at  once." 

"  And  if  I  refuse  your  ridiculous  request  ?  " 

"  You  will  not  find  my  request  in  the  least  ridiculous. 
If  you  refuse  I  shall  hold  you  up  with  my  weapon  and 
alarm  the  whole  house.  But  I  don't  want  to  do  that, 
for  the  sake  of  the  other  man.  He  is  so  very  respect- 
able, you  know,  and  anything  unconventional  may  be 
so  awkward  for  him.  Yes,  it  is  just  as  I  expected.  He 
is  coming  up  the  ivy  to  investigate  himself.     Go  !  " 

The  revolver  covered  Littimer  quite  steadily.  He 
could  see  into  the  blue  rim,  and  he  was  conscious  of 
strange  cold  sensations  down  his  spine.  A  revolver  is 
not  a  pretty  thing  at  the  best  of  times  ;  it  is  doubly 
hazardous  in  the  hands  of  a  woman. 

"  What  do  you  want  with  me  ?  "  he  asked. 

"  My  dear  man,  I  want  to  do  nothing  with  you.  Only 
do  as  you  are  told  and — there  !  The  other  man  is  coming 
up  the  ivy.  He  can't  understand  the  light  and  you 
not  returning.  He  imagines  that  you  are  looking  in 
the  wrong  place.     Please  go." 

Littimer  backed  before  the  weapon,  backed  until  he 
was  in  the  doorway.  Suddenly  the  girl  gave  him  a 
push,  shut  the  door  to,  and  turned  the  key  in  the  lock. 
Almost  at  the  same  instant  another  figure  loomed  largt 
1*0  the  window-frame. 


A  rovoKcr  i>  limiMv  lia/.iriloiis  in  the  lianJs  ot  a  woman." 


7hf  Crimitn   Blind. 


CHAPTERjXXVIL' 

SLIGHTLY   FARCICAL 

Something  bulky  was  struggling  to  get  through  the 
window.  Half  hidden  in  the  shadow,  Christabel  watched 
with  the  deepest  interest.  If  she  had  been  afredd  at 
first  that  sensation  had  entirely  departed  by  this  time. 
From  the  expression  of  her  face  she  might  have  been 
enjoying  the  novel  situation.  It  was  certainly  not 
without  a  suggestion  of  the  farcioaJ. 

The  burly  figure  contrived  to  squeeze  through  the 
narrow  casement  at  length  and  stood  breathing  loudly 
in  the  corridor.  It  was  not  a  pleasant  sight  that  met 
Christabel's  gaze — a  big  man  with  a  white,  set  face  and 
rolling  eyes  and  a  stiff  bandage  about  his  throat.  Evi- 
dently the  intruder  was  utterly  exhausted,  for  he  drojjped 
into  a  chair  and  nursed  his  head  between  his  hands. 

"  Now  what  has  become  of  that  fool  ?  "  he  muttered. 
••  Ah  !  " 

'  He  looked  round  hira  uneasily,  but  his  expression 
changed  as  his  eyes  fell  on  the  Kembrandt.  He  had 
the  furtive  look  of  a  starving  man  who  picks  up  a  purse 
whilst  the  owner  is  still  in  sight.  He  staggered  towards 
the  picture  and  endeavoured  to  take  it  gently  from  the 
support.  He  tried  again  and  again,  and  then  in  a 
paroxysm  of  rage  he  tore  at  the  Iranic-work. 

"  I  guess  that  it  can't  be  done,"  Clu^istabel  said, 
drawlingly.     "  See,  stranger  ?  " 

Reginald  Henson  fairly  gasped.     As  he  turned  round 
177  M 


178  THE   CRIMSON   BLIND. 

the  ludicrous  mixture  of  cunning  and  confusion,  angel 
and  vexatious  alarm  on  his  face  caused  the  girl  to  smll«. 

"  I — I  beg  your  pardon,"  he  stammered. 

"  I  said  it  can't  be  done,"  the  girl  drawled,  coolly. 
"  Sandow  couldn't  do  it.  The  frame  is  made  of  iron 
and  it  is  fixed  to  the  wall  by  four  long  stays.  It's  a 
neat  job,  though  I  say  it  myself ;  I  persuaded  Lord 
Littimer  to  have  it  done.  And  when  I  heard  you  two 
prowling  about  down  there  I  was  glad.  I've  got  the 
other  one  safe." 

"  Oh,  you've  got  the  other  one  safe  ?  "  Henson  said, 
blankly. 

He  would  have  liked  to  have  burst  out  into  a  torrent 
of  passion,  only  he  recognised  his  position.  The  thing 
was  shamefully  funny.  It  was  anything  but  nice  for  a 
man  of  his  distinguished  position  to  be  detected  in  an 
act  suspiciously  like  vulgar  burglary.  Still,  there  must 
be  some  plausible  way  out  of  the  difficulty  if  he  could 
only  think  of  it.  Only  this  girl  with  the  quaint,  pretty 
face  and  spectacles  did  not  look  in  the  least  like  a 
fool.  He  would  have  to  try  what  blandishments 
would  do. 

"  Are  you  aware  vvho  I  am  ?  "  he  asked,  blandly. 

"  What  does  it  matter  ?  I've  got  the  other  one,  and 
no  doubt  he  will  be  identified  by  the  police.  If  he 
doesn't  say  too  much  he  may  get  off  with  a  light  sen- 
tence. It  is  quite  easy  to  see  that  you  are  the  greater 
scoundrel  of  the  two." 

"  My  dear  young  lady,  do  you  actually  take  me  for 
a  burglar  ?  " 

There  was  a  note  of  deep  pain  in  Henson's  voice. 
He  had  dropped  into  a  chair  again,  with  a  feeling  of 
utter  weakness  upon  him.  The  girl's  resolute  mien 
and  the  familiar  way  in  which  she  handled  her  revolver 
filled  him  with  the  deejjest  apprehension. 

"  I  am  a  very  old  friend  and  relative  of  Lord  Litti- 
mer's,"  he  said. 

"  Oh,  indeed.  And  is  the  other  man  a  relative  of 
Lord  Lit  timer's  also  'i  " 

"  Oh,  why,  confound  it,  yes.  The  other  man,  as  you 
call  him,  is  I^rd  Littimer's  only  son." 


SLIGHTLY    FARCICAL.  179 

Christabel  glanced  at  Henson,  not  without  admiration. 

"  Well,  you  are  certainly  a  cool  hand,"  she  said. 
"  You  are  two  clever  thieves  who  have  come  here  for 
the  express  purpose  of  robbing  Lord  Littimer  of  one  of 
his  art  treasures.  I  happen  to  catch  one,  and  he  imme- 
diately becomes  the  son  of  the  owner  of  the  place.  I 
am  so  fortunate  as  to  bag  the  other  bird,  and  he  resolves 
himself  into  a  relative  of  my  host's.  And  you  really 
expect  me  to  believe  a  Hans  Andersen  fairy  story  like 
that !  " 

"  I  admit  that  appearances  are  against  me,"  Henson 
said,  humbly.     "  But  I  am  speaking  the  tnith." 

"  Oh,  indeed.  Then  why  didn't  you  come  in  through 
the  front  door  ?  The  violent  exercise  you  were  taking 
just  now  must  be  dangerous  to  a  man  of  your  build  !  " 

"  I  am  afraid  I  shall  have  to  make  a  clean  breast  of 
it,"  Henson  said,  with  what  he  fondly  imagined  to  be 
an  engaging  smile.  "  You  may,  perhaps,  be  aware  that 
yonder  Rembrandt  has  a  history.  It  was  stolen  from 
its  present  owner  once,  and  I  have  always  said  that  it 
will  be  stolen  again.  Many  a  time  have  I  urged  Lord 
Littimer  to  make  it  secure." 

"  How  grateful  you  should  be  to  me  for  having  done 
so!" 

"  Ah,  you  are  cynical  still,  which  is  a  bad  thing  for 
one  so  young  and — er — charming.  I  came  down  here 
to  see  my  very  noble  relative,  and  his  son  accompanied 
me.  I  came  to  try  and  make  peace  between  father 
and  son.  But  that  is  a  family  matter  which,  forgive 
me,  I  cannot  discuss  with  a  stranger.  Our  train  was 
late,  or  we  should  have  been  here  long  ago.  On  reaching 
the  castle  it  struck  me  as  a  good  idea  to  give  Lord 
Littimer  a  lesson  as  to  his  carelessness.  My  idea  was 
to  climb  through  the  window,  abstract  the  Rembrandt, 
and  slip  <juietly  into  my  usual  bedroom  here.  Then  in 
the  mornmg,  after  the  picture  has  been  missed,  I  was 
going  to  tell  the  whole  story.  That  is  why  Mr.  Littimer 
entered  this  way  and  why  I  followed  when  I  found  that 
he  had  failed  to  return.  It  was  a  foolish  thing  to  do, 
and  the  denouement  has  been  most  humiliating.  1  assure 
you  that  is  all." 


i8o  THE  CRIMSON    BLIND. 

"  Not  quite,"  Christabel  drawled-     "  There  is  somo* 

thing  else." 

"  And  what  may  that  be,  my  dear  young  lady  ?  " 

"  To  tell  your  story  to  Lord  Littimer  before  you  sleen. 
That  kind  of  romance  may  do  for  Great  Britain,  but  :t 
wouldn't  make  good  family  reading  in  the  States." 

"But,  my  dear  young  lady,  I  beg  of  you,  implore  you — " 

"  Come  off  the  grass  !  I'm  to  let  you  go  quietly  to 
bed  and  retire  myself,  so  that  when  morning  arrives  you 
will  be  missing  together  with  as  much  plunder  as  you 
can  carry  away.     No,  sir  " 

Henson  advanced  angrily.  His  prudence  had  gone 
for  the  time.  As  he  came  down  upon  Christabel  she 
raised  her  revolver  and  fired  two  shots  in  quick  succes- 
sion over  Henson's  shoulder.  The  noise  went  echoing 
and  reverberating  along  the  corridor  like  a  crackling  of 
thunder.  A  door  came  open  with  a  click,  then  a  voice 
demanded  to  know  what  was  wrong. 

"  Now  I  guess  the  fat  is  in  the  fire,"  Christabel  said. 

Henson  dropped  into  a  chair  and  groaned.  Lord 
Littimer,  elegantly  attired  in  a  suit  of  silk  pyjamas  and 
carrying  a  revolver  in  his  hand,  came  coolly  down  the 
corridor.  A  curious  servant  or  two  would  have  followed, 
but  he  waved  them  back  crisply. 

"  Miss  Lee,"  he  said,  with  a  faint,  sarcastic  emphasis, 
"  and  my  dear  friend  and  relative,  Reginald  Henson — 
Reginald,  the  future  owner  of  Littimer  Castle  !  " 

"  So  he  told  me,  but  I  wouldn't  believe  hiia,"  said 
Christabel. 

"  It  is  a  cynical  age,"  Littimer  remarked.  "  Reginald, 
what  does  this  mean  ?  " 

Henson  shook  his  head  uncaiily. 

"  The  young  lady  persisted  in  taking  me  for  a  burglar," 
he  groaned. 

"  And  why  not  ?  "  Christabel  demanded.  "  I  was  jast 
going  to  bed  when  I  heard  voices  in  the  forecourt  belovr 
and  footstc[:)S  creeping  along.  I  came  into  the  corridor 
with  my  revolver.  Presently  one  of  the  men  climbed 
up  the  ivy  and  got  into  the  corridor.  I  covered  liim 
with  my  revolver  and  fairly  drove  him  into  a  bedroom 
and  locked  liim  in." 


SLIGHTLY   FARCICAL.  i8i 

"  So  you  killed  with  both  barrels  ?  "  Littimer  cried, 

with  infinite  enjoyment. 

"  Then  the  other  one  carae.  He  came  to  steal  the 
Rembrandt." 

"  Nothing  of  the  kind,"  the  wretched  Henson  cried. 
"  I  came  to  give  you  a  lesson,  Lord  Littimer.  My  idea 
was  to  get  in  throut^^h  the  window,  steal  the  Rembrandt, 
and,  when  you  had  missed  it,  confess  the  whole  story. 
My  character  is  safe." 

"  Giddy,"  Littimer  said,  reproachfully.  "  You  are 
so  young,  so  boyish,  so  buoyant,  Reginald.  What 
would  your  future  constituents  have  said  had  they  seen 
you  creeping  up  the  ivy  ?  They  are  a  grave  people  who 
take  themselves  seriously.  Egad,  this  would  be  a  lovely 
story  for  one  of  those  prying  society  papers.  *  The 
Philanthropist  and  the  Pic  tare.'  I've  a  good  mind  to 
send  it  to  the  Press  myself." 

Littimer  sat  down  and  laughed  with  pure  enjoyment. 

"  And  where  is  the  other  partridge  ? "  he  asked, 
presently. 

Christabel  seemed  to  hesitate  for  a  moment,  her  sense 
of  humour  of  the  situntion  had  departed.  Her  hand 
shook  as  she  turned  the  key  in  the  door. 

"  I  am  afraid  you  are  going  to  have  an  unpleasant 
surprise,"  Henson  said. 

Littimer  glanced  keenly  at  the  speaker.  Ail  the 
laughter  died  out  of  his  eyes ;  his  face  grew  set  and 
stern  as  Frank  Littimer  emerged  into  the  light. 

"  And  what  are  you  doing  here  ?  "  he  asked,  hoarsely. 
*'  What  do  you  expect  to  gain  by  taking  part  in  a  fool's 
trick  like  this  ?  Did  I  not  tell  you  never  to  show  your 
face  here  again  ?  " 

The  young  man  said  nothing.  He  stood  there  looking 
down,  dogged,  quiet,  like  one  tongue-tied.  Littimei 
thundered  out  his  question  again.  He  crossed  over, 
laying  his  hands  on  his  son's  shoulders  and  shaking  him 
as  a  terrier  might  shake  a  rat. 

"  Did  you  come  for  anything  ?  "  he  demanded.  "  Did 
you  expert  any  mercy  from " 

Frank  Littimer  shook  off  his  grasp  gently,  lie  looked 
np  for  the  first  time. 


i8a  THE  CRIMSON    BLIND. 

"  I  expected  nothing,"  he  said.  "  I — I  did  not  come 
of  my  own  free  will.  I  am  silent  now  for  the  sake  of 
myself  and  others.  But  the  time  may  come — God 
knows  it  has  been  long  delayed.  For  the  present,  I 
am  bound  in  honour  to  hold  my  tongue." 

He  flashed  one  little  glance  at  Henson,  a  long,  angry 
glance.  Littimer  looked  from  one  to  the  otier  in  hesi- 
tation for  a  moment.  The  hard  lines  between  his  brows 
softened. 

"  Perhaps  I  am  wrong,"  he  muttered.  *  Perhaps 
there  has  been  a  mistake  somewhere.  And  if  ever  I 
find  out  I  have pshaw,  I  am  talking  like  a  senti- 
mental schoolgirl.  Have  I  not  had  evidence  strong  as 
proof  of  Holy  Writ  that  .  .  .  Get  out  of  my  sight, 
your  presence  angers  me.  Go,  and  never  let  me  see 
you  again.  Reginald,  you  were  a  fool  to  bring  that 
boy  here  to-night.  See  him  off  the  premises  and  fasten 
the  door  again." 

"  Surely,"  Christabel  interfered,  "  surely  at  this  time 
of  the  night " 

"  You  should  be  in  bed,"  Littimer  said,  tartly.  "  My 
dear  young  lady,  if  you  and  I  are  to  remain  friends  I 
must  ask  you  to  mind  your  own  business.  It  is  a 
dreadfully  difficult  thing  for  a  woman  to  do,  but  you 
must  try.     You  understand  ?  " 

Christabel  was  evidently  putting  a  strong  constraint 
on  her  tongue,  for  she  merely  bowed  and  said  nothing. 
She  had  her  own  good  reasons  for  the  diplomacy  of 
silence.  Henson  and  Frank  Littimer  were  disappearing 
in  the  direction  of  the  staircase. 

"  I  say  nothing,"  Christabel  said.  "  But  at  the  same 
time  I  don't  fancy  I  shall  care  very  much  for  your  dis- 
tinguished friend  Reginald  Henson." 

Littimer  smiled.  All  his  good  humour  seemed  lo 
have  returned  to  him.  Only  the  dark  lines  under  his 
eyes  were  more  accentuated. 

"  A  slimy,  fawning  hound,"  he  whispered.  "  A  mean 
fellow.  And  the  best  of  it  is  that  he  imagines  that  I 
hold  the  highest  regard  for  him.     Good-night." 


CHAPTER    XXVIIL 

A   SQUIRE    OF    DAMES. 

A  LITTLE  later,  and  Christabel  sat  before  her  looking- 
glass  witli  her  lovely  hair  about  her  shoulders.  The 
glasses  were  gone  and  her  magnificent  eyes  gleamed  and 
sparkled. 

"  Good  night's  work,"  she  said  to  her  smiling  reflec- 
tion. "  Now  the  danger  is  passed  and  now  that  I  am 
away  from  that  dreadful  house  I  feel  a  different  being. 
Strange  what  a  difference  a  few  hours  has  made  !  And 
I  hardly  need  my  disguise — even  at  this  moment  I 
believe  that  Enid  would  not  recognise  me.  She  will  be 
pleased  to  know  that  her  telegram  came'  in  so  usefully. 
Well,  here  I  am,  and  I  don't  fancy  that  anybody  will 
recognise  Christabel  Lee  and  Chris  Henson  for  one  and 
the  same  person." 

She  sat  there  brushing  her  hair  and  letting  her  thoughts 
drift  along  idly  over  the  events  of  the  evening.  Reginald 
Henson  would  have  felt  less  easy  in  his  mind  had  he 
known  what  these  thoughts  were.  Up  to  now  that  oily 
scoundrel  hugged  himself  with  the  delusion  that  nobody 
besides  Frank  Littimer  and  himself  knew  that  the  second 
copy  of  "  The  Crimson  Blind  "  had  passed  into  Bell's 
possession. 

But  Chris  was  quite  aware  of  the  fact.  And  Chris  as 
Chris  was  sup[)osed  by  Henson  to  be  dead  and  buried, 
and  was,  therefore,  in  a  position  to  play  her  cards  as 
ske  pleased.     Up  to  now  it  seemed  to  her  that  she  had 

1*3 


i84  THE  CRIMSON   BLIND* 

Elayed  them  very  well  indeed.  A  cipher  telegram  from 
ongdean  had  warned  her  that  Henson  was  coming 
there,  had  given  her  more  than  a  passing  hint  what 
Henson  required,  and  her  native  wit  had  told  her  why 
Henson  was  after  the  Rembrandt. 

Precisely  why  he  wanted  the  picture  she  had  not 
discovered  yet.  But  she  knew  that  she  would  before 
long.  And  she  knew  also  that  Henson  would  tiy  and 
obtain  the  print  without  making  his  presence  at  Littimer 
Castle  obvious.  He  was  bringing  Frank  Littimer  with 
him,  and  was  therefore  going  to  use  the  younger  man 
in  some  cunning  way. 

That  Henson  would  try  and  get  into  the  castle  sur- 
reptitiously Chris  had  felt  from  the  first.  Once  he  did 
so  the  rest  would  be  easy,  as  he  knew  exactly  where  to 
lay  his  hand  on  the  picture.  Therefore  he  could  have 
no  better  time  than  the  dead  of  night.  If  his  presence 
were  betrayed  he  could  turn  the  matter  aside  as  a  joke 
and  trust  to  his  native  wit  later  on.  If  he  had  obtained 
the  picture  by  stealth  he  would  have  discreetly  dis- 
appeared, covering  his  tracks  as  he  retreated. 

StiU,  it  had  all  fallen  out  very  fortunately.  Henson 
had  been  made  to  look  ridiculous  ;  he  had  been  forced 
to  admit  that  he  was  giving  Littimer  a  lesson  over  the 
Rembrandt,  and  though  the  thing  appeared  innocent 
enough  on  the  surface,  Chris  was  sanguine  that  later  on 
she  could  bring  this  up  in  evidence  against  him. 

"  So  far  so  good,"  she  told  herself.  "  Watch,  watch, 
watch,  and  act  when  the  time  comes.  But  it  was  hard 
to  meet  Frank  to-night  and  be  able  to  say  nothing.  And 
how  abjectly  miserable  he  looked  I  Well,  let  us  hope 
that  the  good  time  is  coming." 

Chris  was  up  betimes  in  the  morning  and  out  on  the 
terrace.  She  felt  no  further  uneasiness  on  the  score  of 
the  disguise  now.  Henson  was  certain  to  be  inquisitive, 
it  was  part  of  his  nature,  but  he  was  not  going  to  learn 
anything.  Chris  smiled  as  she  saw  Henson  lumbering 
towards  her.     He  seemed  all  the  better  for  his  night's  rest. 

"  The  rose  blooms  early  here,"  he  said,  gallantly. 
*'  Let  me  express  the  hope  that  you  have  quite  forgiven 
me  for  the  fright  I  gave  you  last  night." 


A  SQUIRE  OF  DAMES.  185 

•*  I  guess  I  don't  recollect  the  fright,"  Cliris  drawled. 
••  And  if  there  was  any  fright  I  calculate  it  was  on  the 
other  side.  And  how  are  you  this  morning  ?  You  look 
as  if  you  had  been  in  the  wars.  Got  some  trouble  with 
your  throat,  or  what  ?  " 

"  A  slight  operation,"  Hcnson  said,  airily.  "  I  have 
been  speaking  too  much  in  public  lately  and  a  little 
something  had  to  be  removed.     I  am  much  better." 

The  ready  lie  tripped  off  his  tongue.  Chiis  smiled 
slightly. 

"  Do  you  know,  you  remind  me  very  much  of  some- 
body," he  went  on.  "  And  yet  I  don't  know  why, 
because  you  are  quite  different.  Lord  Littimer  tells  me 
you  are  an  American." 

"  The  Stars  and  Stripes,"  Chris  laughed.  "  I  guess 
our  nation  is  the  first  on  earth.  Now,  if  you  happen  to 
know  anything  about  Boston " 

"  I  never  was  in  Boston  in  my  life,"  Henson  replied, 
hastily.  The  name  seemed  to  render  him  uneasy. 
"  Have  you  been  in  England  very  long  ?  " 

Chris  replied  that  she  was  enjoying  England  for  the 
first  time.  But  she  was  not  there  to  answer  questions, 
her  r6le  was  to  ask  tlicm.  But  she  was  dealing  with  a 
past-master  in  the  art  of  gleaning  information,  and 
Henson  was  getting  on  her  nerves.  She  gave  a  little 
cry  of  pleasure  as  a  marjnificent  specimen  of  a  bloodhound 
came  trotting  down  the  terrace  and  paused  in  friendly 
fashion  before  her. 

"  What  a  lovely  dog,"  she  exclaimed.  "  Do  you  like 
dogs,  Mr.  Henson  ?  " 

She  looked  up  beamingly  into  his  face  as  she  spoke  ; 
she  saw  the  heavy  features  darken  and  the  eyes  grow 
small  with  anger. 

"  I  loathe  them,  and  they  loathe  me,"  Henson  growled. 
"  Look  at  him  !  " 

He  pointed  to  the  dog,  who  showed  his  teeth  with 
an  angry  giowl.  And  yet  the  great  sleek  head  lay 
against  the  girl's  knee  in  perfect  confidence.  Henson 
looked  on  uneasily  and  backed  a  little  way.  The  dog 
marked  his  every  mo\cment. 

"  See  how  the  brute  shows 'his  teeth  at  me,"  he  said. 


i86  THE  CRIMSON   BLIND. 

"  Please  send  him  away,  Miss  Lee.     I  am  certain  he  ifl 

getting  ready  for  a  sprinij;." 

Henson's  face  was  white  and  hot  and  wet,  his  lips 
trembled.  He  was  horribly  afraid.  Chris  patted  the 
silky  head  and  dismissed  the  dog  with  a  curt  command. 
He  went  off  instantly  with  a  wistful,  backward  look  in 
his  eye. 

'*  We  are  going  to  be  great  friends,  that  doggie  and 
I,"  Chris  said,  gaily.  "  And  I  don't  like  you  any  the 
better,  Mr.  Henson,  because  you  don't  like  d(;gs  and  they 
don't  like  you.  Dogs  are  far  better  judges  of  character 
than  vou  imagine.     Dr.  Bell  says " 

"  What  Dr.  Bell  ?  "  Henson  demanded,  swiftly. 

Chris  had  paused  just  in  time  ;  perhaps  her  successful 
disguise  had  made  her  a  trifle  reckless. 

"  Dr.  Hathcrly  Bell."  she  said.  "  He  used  to  be  a 
famous  man  before  he  fell  into  disgrace  over  something 
or  another.  I  heard  him  lecture  on  the  animal  instinct 
in  Boston  once,  and  he  said — but  as  you  don't  care  for 
dogs  it  doesn't  matter  what  he  said." 

"  Do  you  happen  to  know  anything  about  him  ?  " 
Henson  asked. 

"  Very  little.  I  never  met  him,  if  that  is  what  you 
mean.  But  I  heard  that  he  had  done  something  par- 
ticularly disgraceful.     Why  do  you  ask  ?  " 

"  Nothing  more  than  a  mere  coincidence,"  Henson 
replied.  "  It  is  just  a  little  strange  that  you  should 
mention  his  name  here,  especially  after  what  had  hap- 
pened last  night.  I  suppose  that,  being  an  American, 
you  fell  in  love  with  the  Rembrandt.  It  was  you  who 
suggested  securing  it  in  its  place,  and  then  preventing 
my  little  jest  from  being  successfully  carried  out.  Ol 
course  you  have  heard  that  the  print  was  stolen  once  ?  " 

"  The  knowledge  is  as  general  as  the  spiriting  away 
of  the  Gainsborough  Duchess." 

"  Quite  so.  Well,  the  man  who  stole  the  Rembrandt 
was  Dr.  Hatherly  Bell.  He  stole  it  that  he  might  pay 
a  gaml)ling  debt,  and  it  was  subsequently  found  in  his 
luggage  before  he  could  j^ass  it  on  to  the  purchaser. 
I  am  glad  you  mentioned  it,  because  the  oame  ol  Bell 
is  not  exactly  a  favo'jrite  at  the  castle-" 


A   SQUIRE  OF   DAMES.  187 

**  I  am  much  obliged  to  you,"  said  Chris,  gravely. 
"  Was  Dr.  Bell  a  favourite  once  ?  " 

"  Oh,  immense.  He  had  great  influence  over  Lord 
Littimer.  He — but  here  comes  Littimer  in  one  of  his 
moods.     He  appears  to  be  angry  about  something." 

Littimer  strode  up,  with  a  frown  on  his  face  and  a 
telegram  in  his  hand.  Henson  assumed  to  be  mildly 
sympathetic. 

"  I  hope  it  is  nothing  serious  ?  "  he  murmured. 

"  Serious,"  Littimer  cried.  "  The  acme  of  audacity 
— 5^s.  The  telegram  has  just  come.  '  Must  see  you  to- 
night on  important  business  affecting  the  past.  Shall 
hope  to  be  with  you  some  time  after  dinner  !  '  " 

"  And  who  is  the  audacious  aspirant  to  an  inter- 
view ?  "  Chris  asked,  demurely. 

"  A  man  I  expect  you  never  heard  of,"  said  Littimer, 
"  but  who  is  quite  familiar  to  Henson  here.  I  am 
alluding  to  that  scoundrel  Hatherly  Bell." 

"  Good  heavens  !  "  Henson  burst  out.  "  I — I  meaa, 
viMt  colossal  impudence  I  " 


CHAPTER   XXnL 

THE   MAN   WITH   THE   THUMB   AGAIlfj 

Chris  gave  Henson  one  swift  searchinc:  glance  before 
her  eyes  dropped  demurely  to  the  ground.  Lord  Litti- 
mcr  appeared  to  be  taking  no  heed  of  anything  but  his 
own  annoyance.  But  quick  as  Chris  had  been,  Henson 
was  quicker.  He  was  smiling  the  slow,  sad  smile  of 
the  man  who  turns  the  other  cheek  because  it  is  his 
duty  to  do  so. 

"  And  when  does  Dr.  Bell  arrive  ?  "  he  asked. 

"  He  won't  arrive  at  all,"  Littimer  said,  irritably. 
"  Do  you  suppose  I  am  going  to  allow  that  scoundrel 
under  my  roof  again  ?  The  amazing  impudence  of  the 
fellow  is  beyond  everything.  He  will  probably  reach 
Moreton  Station  by  the  ten  o'clock  train.  The  drive 
will  take  him  an  hour,  if  I  choose  to  permit  the  drive, 
which  I  don't.  I'll  send  a  groom  to  meet  the  train  with 
a  letter.  When  BeU  has  read  that  letter  he  will  not  come 
here." 

"  I  don't  think  I  should  do  that,"  Henson  said, 
respectfully. 

Indeed !     You    are    really    a    clever    fellow.     And 
what  would  you  do  ?  " 

"  I  should  suffer  Bell  to  come.  As  a  Christian  I  should 
deem  it  my  duty  to  do  so.  It  pains  me  to  say  so,  but 
I  am  afraid  that  I  cannot  contravcrt  your  suggestion 
that  BeU  is  a  scoundrel.  It  grieves  me  to  prove  any 
man  that.     And  in  the  present  instance  the  proofs  were 


THE  MAN  WITH  THE  THUMB  AGAIN     189 

overpowering.  But  there  is  always  a  chance — a  chance 
that  we  have  misjudged  a  man  on  false  evidence." 

"  False  evidence  !  Why,  the  Rembrandt  was  actually 
found  in  Bell's  portmanteau." 

"  Dear  friend,  I  know  it,"  Henson  said,  with  the 
same  slow,  forgi\ing  smile.  "  But  there  have  been  cases 
of  black  treachery,  dark  conspiracies  that  one  abhors. 
And  Bell  might  have  made  some  stupendous  discovery 
regarding  liis  character.  I  should  see  him,  my  lord ; 
oh,  yes,  I  should  most  undoubtedly  see  him." 

"  And  so  should  I,"  Chris  put  in,  swiftly. 

Littimer  smiled,  with  all  traces  of  his  ill-temper  gone. 
He  seemed  to  be  contemplating  Henson  with  his  head 
on  one  side,  as  if  to  fathom  that  gentleman's  intentions. 
There  was  just  the  suspicion  of  contempt  in  his  glance. 

"  In  the  presence  of  so  much  goodness  and  beauty  I 
feel  quite  lost,"  he  said.  "  Very  well,  Henson,  I'll  see 
Bell.     I  may  find  the  interview  diverting." 

Henson  strolled  away  with  a  sigh  of  gentle  pleasure. 
Once  out  of  sight  he  flew  to  the  library,  where  he  scribbled 
a  couple  of  telegrams.  They  were  carefully  worded  and 
related  to  some  apocryphal  parcel  required  without  delay, 
and  calculated  to  convey  nothing  to  the  lay  mind.  A 
servant  was  despatched  to  the  village  with  them.  Henson 
would  have  been  pleased  had  he  known  that  the  fas- 
cinating little  American  had  waylaid  his  messenger  and 
read  his  telegrams  under  the  plea  of  verifying  one  of 
the  addresses.  A  moment  or  two  later  and  those  ad- 
dresses were  carefully  noted  down  in  a  pocket-book. 
It  was  past  five  befi:)re  Chris  found  herself  with  a  little 
time  on  her  hands  again.  Littimer  had  kept  her  pretty 
busy  all  the  afternoon,  partly  because  there  was  so 
much  to  do,  but  partly  from  the  pleasure  that  he  de- 
rived from  his  secretary's  society.  He  was  more  free 
with  her  than  he  had  been  with  any  of  her  sex  for  years. 
It  was  satisfactory,  too,  to  learn  that  Littimer  regarded 
Henson  as  a  smug  and  oily  hyjwcrite,  and  that  the  latter 
was  only  going  to  he  left  Littimer  Castle  to  spite  the 
owner's  other  relations. 

"  Now  you  run  into  the  garden  and  get  a  blow," 
Littimer  said  at  length.     "  I  am  telling  you  a  lot  too 


190  THE  CRIMSON   BLIND. 

much.  1  am  afraid  you  are  a  most  insinuating  young 
person." 

Chris  ran  out  into  the  garden  gaily.  Despite  the 
crushing  burden  on  her  shoulders  she  felt  an  elation 
and  a  tiow  of  spirits  she  had  not  been  conscious  of  for 
years.  The  invigorating  air  of  the  place  seemed  to 
have  got  into  her  veins,  the  cruel  depression  of  the 
House  of  the  Silent  Sorrow  was  passing  away.  Again, 
she  had  hope  and  youth  on  her  side,  and  everything 
was  falling  out  beautifully.  It  was  a  pleasanter  world 
than  Chris  had  anticipated. 

She  went  along  more  quietly  after  a  time.  There  was 
a  tiny  arbour  on  a  terrace  overlooking  the  sea  to  which 
Chris  had  taken  a  particular  fancy.  She  picked  her 
way  daintily  along  the  grass  paths  between  the  roses 
until  she  suddenly  emerged  upon  the  terrace.  She  had 
popped  out  of  the  roses  swiftly  as  a  squirrel  peeps  from 
a  tree. 

Somebody  was  in  the  arbour,  two  people  talking 
earnestly.  One  man  stood  up  with  his  back  to  Chris, 
one  hand  gripping  the  outside  ragged  bark  of  the  arbour 
frame  with  a  peculiarly  nervous,  restless  force.  Chris 
could  see  the  hand  turned  back  distinctly.  A  piece  of 
bark  was  being  crumblt^  under  a  strong  thumb. 
Such  a  thumb  I  Chris  had  seen  nothing  like  it 
before. 

It  was  as  if  at  some  time  it  had  been  smashed  fiat 
with  a  hammer,  a  broad,  strong,  cruel-looking  thumb, 
flat  and  sinister-looking  as  the  head  of  a  snake.  In  the 
centre,  like  a  pink  pearl  dropped  in  a  filthy  gutter,  was 
one  tiny,  perfectly-formed  nail. 

The  owner  of  the  thumb  stepped  back  the  better  to 
give  way  to  a  lit  of  hoarse  laughter.  He  turned  slightly 
aside  and  his  eyes  met  those  of  Chris.  They  were  small 
eyes  set  in  a  coarse,  brutal  face,  the  face  of  a  criminal, 
Chris  thought,  if  she  were  a  judge  of  such  matters.  It 
came  quite  as  a  shock  to  see  that  the  stranger  was  in 
clerical  garb. 

"  I — I  bc^  your  pardon,"  Chris  stammered.  "  But 
1 " 

Hensou  emerged   from  the  arbour.     For  once  in  a 


THE  MAN  WITH  THE  THUMB  AGAIN.     191 

way  he  appeared  confused,  there  was  a  flush  on  his  face 
that  told  of  annoyance  ill  suppressed. 

"  Please  don't  go  away,"  he  said.  "  Mr.  Merritt  will 
think  that  he  has  alarmed  you.  Miss  Lee,  this  is  my 
>ery  good  friend  and  co-worker  in  the  field,  the  Reverend 
James  Merritt." 

"  Is  Mr.  Merritt  a  friend  of  Lord  Littimer's  ?  "  Chris 
asked,  demurely. 

"  Littimer  hates  the  cloth,"  Henson  replied.  "  In- 
deed, he  has  no  sympathy  whatever  with  my  work.  I 
met  my  good  friend  quite  by  accident  in  the  village  just 
now,  and  I  brought  him  here  for  a  chat.  Mr.'  Merritt  is 
taking  a  well-earned  holiday." 

Chris  replied  graciously  that  she  didn't  doubt  it.  She 
did  not  deem  it  necessary  to  add  that  she  knew  that  one 
of  Mr.  Henson's  mystic  telegrams  had  been  addressed 
to  one  James  Merritt  at  an  address  in  More  ton  Wells, 
a  town  some  fifteen  miles  away.  That  the  scoundrel 
was  up  to  no  good  she  knew  perfectly  well. 

"  Your  work  must  be  very  interesting,"  she  said. 
"  Have  you  been  in  the  Church  long,  Mr.  Merritt  ?  " 

Merritt  said  hoarsely  thnt  he  had  not  been  in  the 
Church  very  long,  llis  dreadful  grin  and  fog  voice 
suggested  that  he  was  a  brand  plucked  from  the  burning, 
and  that  he  hud  only  recently  come  over  to  the  side  of 
the  angels.  The  whole  time  he  spoke  he  never  met 
Chris's  glance  once.  The  chaplain  of  a  convict  prison 
would  have  turned  from  him  in  disgust.  Henson  was 
obviously  ill  at  ease.  In  his  suave,  diplomatic  way  he 
contrived  to  manoeuvre  Merritt  off  the  ground  at  length. 

"  An  excellent  fellow,"  he  said,  with  exaggerated  en- 
thusiasm. "  It  was  a  great  day  for  us  wlicn  we  won 
over  Janes  Merritt.  He  can  reach  a  class  which  hitherto 
we.  have  not  touclicd." 

"  He  looks  as  if  he  had  been  in  gaol,"  Chris  said. 

"  Oh,  he  has,"  Henson  admitted,  candidly.  "  Many 
a  time." 

Chris  deemed  it  just  possible  that  the  unpleasant 
experience  might  be  endured  again,  but  she  only  smiled 
and  expressed  herself  to  be  deeply  interested.  The  un- 
easiness   in    Henson's    manner    gradually    disappcaicd. 


iga  THE  CRIMSON   BLIND. 

Evidently  the  girl  suspected  nothing.  She  would  have 
liked  to  have  asked  a  question  or  two  about  Mr.  Merritt's 
thumb,  but  she  deemed  it  prudent  not  to  do  so. 

Dinner  came  at  length,  dinner  served  in  the  great 
hall  in  honour  of  the  recently  arrived  guest,  and  set 
up  in  all  the  panoply  and  splendour  that  Littimer 
atfected  at  times.  The  best  plate  was  laid  out  on  the 
long  table.  There  were  banks  and  coppices  of  flowers 
at  either  corner,  a  huge  palm  nodded  over  silver  and 
glass  and  priceless  china.  The  softly  shaded  electiic 
lights  made  pools  of  amber  flame  on  fruit  and  flowers 
and  gleaming  crystal.  Half-a-dozen  big  foutmen  went 
about  their  work  with  noiseless  tread. 

Henson  shook  his  head  playfully  at  all  this  show  and 
splendour.  His  good  humour  was  of  the  elephantine 
order,  and  belied  the  drawn  anxiety  of  his  eyes. 
Luxurious  and  peaceful  as  the  scene  was,  there  seemed 
to  Chris  to  be  a  touch  of  electricity  in  the  air,  the  sug- 
gestion of  something  about  to  happen.  Littimer  glanced 
at  her  admiringly.  She  was  dressed  in  white  satin,  and 
she  had  in  her  hair  a  single  diamond  star  of  price. 

"  Of  course  Henson  pretends  to  condemn  all  this  kind 
of  thing,"  Littimer  said.  "  He  would  have  you  believe 
that  when  he  comes  into  his  own  the  plate  and  wine 
will  be  sold  for  the  benefit  of  the  poor,  and  the  seats 
of  the  mighty  filled  with  decayed  governesses  and  an- 
tiquated shop-walkers." 

I  hope  that  time  may  long  be  deferred,"  Henson 
murmured. 

"  And  so  do  I,"  Littimer  said,  drily,  "  which  is  one 
of  the  disadvantages  of  being  conservative.  By  the 
way,  who  was  that  truculent-looking  scoundrel  I  saw 
with  you  this  afternoon  ?  " 

Henson  hastened  to  explain.  Littimer  was  emphati- 
cally of  opinion  tliat  such  visitors  were  better  kept  at 
a  distance  for  the  present.  When  all  the  rare  plate  and 
treasures  of  Littimer  Castle  had  been  disposed  of  for 
philanthroi)ic  purj)oses  it  would  not  matter. 

'  There  was  a  time  when  the  enterprising  burglar  got 
his  knowledge  of  the  domestic  and  physical  geography 
of  a  house  from  the  servants.     Now  he  reforms.  witU 


THE  MAN  WITH  THE  THUMB  AGAIN.     193 

the  great  advantage  that  he  can  lay  his  plan  of  campaign 
from  personal  observation.  It  is  a  much  more  admirable 
method,  and  tends  to  avert  suspicion  from  the  actual 
criminal." 

"  Yon  would  not  speak  thus  if  you  knew  Merritt," 
said  Henson. 

*'  All  the  same,  I  don't  want  the  privilege,"  Littimer 
smiled.  "  A  man  with  a  face  like  that  couldn't  reform  ; 
nature  would  resent  such  an  enormity.  And  yet  you 
can  never  tell.  Physically  speaking,  my  quondam  friend 
Hatherly  Bell  has  a  perfect  face." 

"  I  confess  I  am  anxious  to  see  him,"  Chris  said- 
"  I — I  heard  him  lecture  in  America.  He  had  the  most 
interesting  theory  about  dogs.     Mr.  Henson  hates  dogs." 

"  Yes,"  Henson  said,  shortly,  "  I  do,  and  they  hate 
me,  but  that  does  not  prevent  my  being  interested  in 
the  coming  of  Dr.  Bell.  And  nol:)ody  hopes  more  sin- 
cerely than  myself  that  he  will  succeed  in  clearly  vin- 
dicating his  character." 

Littimer  smiled  sarcastically  as  he  trifled  with  his 
claret  glass.  In  his  cynical  way  he  was  looking  forward 
to  the  interview  with  a  certain  sense  of  amusement. 
And  there  was  a  time  when  he  had  enjoyed  Bell's  society 
immensely. 

"  Well,  you  will  not  have  long  to  wait  now,"  he  said- 
"  It  is  long  past  ten,  and  Bell  is  due  at  any  moment 
after  eleven.     Coffee  in  the  balcony,  please." 

It  was  a  gloriously  warm  night,  with  just  a  faint 
suspicion  of  a  breeze  on  the  air.  Down  below  the  sea 
beat  with  a  gentle  sway  against  the  cliffs  ;  on  the  grassy 
slopes  a  belated  lamb  was  bleating  for  its  dam.  Chris 
strolled  quietly  down  the  garden  with  her  mind  at  peace 
for  a  time.  She  had  almost  forgotten  her  mission  for 
the  moment.  A  figure  slipped  gently  past  her  on  the 
grass,  but  she  utterly  failed  to  notice  it. 

"  An  exceedingly  nice  girl,  that,"  Littimer  was  saying, 
"  and  distinctly  amusing.  Excuse  me  if  I  leave  you 
here — a  tendency  to  ague  and  English  night  air  don't 
blend  together." 


CHAPTER    XXX. 

GONE  I 

It  was  the  very  moment  that  Henson  had  been  waiting 
for.  All  his  listlcssness  had  vanished.  He  sprang  to 
his  feet  and  made  his  way  hurriedly  across  the  lawn. 
Dark  as  it  was,  he  sHpped  along  with  the  ease  of  one 
who  is  familiar  with  every  inch  of  the  ground.  A  man 
half  his  weight  and  half  his  age  could  have  been  no  more 
active. 

He  advanced  to  what  seemed  to  be  the  very  edge  of 
the  cliff  and  disappeared.  There  were  rocks  and  grassy 
knolls  which  served  as  landmarks  to  him.  A  slip  of 
the  foot  might  have  resulted  in  a  serious  accident. 
Above  the  gloom  a  head  appeared. 

"  That  you,  Merritt  ?  "  Henson  asked,  hoarsely, 

"  Oh,  it's  me  right  enough,"  came  the  muttered  reply. 
"  Good  job  as  I'm  used  to  a  seafaring  life,  or  I  should 
never  have  got  up  those  cliffs.     Where's  the  girl  ?  " 

"  Oh,  the  girl's  right  enough.  She's  standing  exactly 
where  she  can  hear  the  cry  of  the  suffering  in  distress. 
You  can  leave  that  part  of  the  drama  to  me.  She's  a 
smart  girl  with  plenty  of  pluck,  but  all  the  same  I  am 
going  to  make  use  of  her.     Have  you  got  the  things  ?  " 

"  Got  everything,  pardner.  Got  a  proper  wipe  over 
the  skull,  too." 

"  How  on  earth  did  you  manage  to  do  that  ?  " 

•  Meddling  with  Bell,  of  course.  Why  didn't  you 
let  him  come  and  produce  his  picture  in  peace  ?     We 

i»4 


GONE  1  195 

should  have  been  all  ready  to  flabbergaster  hira  when 
he  did  come." 

"  My  good  Merritt,  I  have  not  the  slightest  doul^t 
about  it.  My  plans  are  too  carefully  laid  for  them  to 
go  astray.  But,  at  the  same  time,  I  firmly  beHeve  in 
having  more  than  one  plan  of  attack  and  more  than 
two  ways  of  escape.  If  we  could  have  despoiled  Bell 
of  his  picture  it  would  have  been  utterly  useless  for  him 
to  have  come  here.  He  would  have  gone  back  pre- 
ferring to  accept  defeat  to  arriving  with  a  cock-and- 
bull  story  to  the  effect  that  he  had  been  robbed  of  his 
trccisure  on  the  way.  And  so  he  got  the  best  of  you, 
eh?" 

"  Rather  !  I  fancied  that  I  was  pretty  strong,  but 
— well,  it  doesn't  mattter.  Here  I  am  with  tlie  tools, 
and  I  ain't  going  to  fail  this  time.  Before  Bell  comes 
the  little  trap  will  be  ready  and  you  will  be  able  to  prove 
an  alibi."  \ 

Henson  chuckled  hoarsely.  He  loved  dramatic  effect, 
and  here  was  one  to  hand.  He  almost  fancied  that  he 
could  see  the  white  outline  of  Chris's  figure  from  where 
he  stood. 

"  Get  along,"  ,he  said.  "  There  is  no  time  to 
lose." 

Merritt  nodded  and  began  to  make  his  way  upward. 
Some  way  above  him  Chris  was  looking  down.  Her 
quick  ear  had  detected  some  suspicious  sound.  She 
watched  eagerly.  Just  below  her  the  big  electric  light 
on  the  castle  tower  cast  a  band  of  flame  athwart  the 
cliff.  Chris  looked  down  steadily  at  this.  Presently 
she  saw  a  hand  uplifted  into  the  belt  of  flame,  a  hand 
grasping  for  a  ledge  of  rock,  and  a  quickly  stifled  cry 
rose  to  her  lips.  The  thumb  on  the  hand  was  smaslied 
flat,  there  was  a  tiny  pink  nail  in  the  centre. 

Chris's  heart  gave  one  quick  h.'ap,  then  her  senses 
came  back  to  her.  She  needed  nobody  to  tell  her  that 
the  owner  of  the  hand  was  James  Merritt.  Nor  did  she 
require  any  fine  discrimination  to  perceive  that  he  was 
up  to  no  good.  That  it  had  something  to  do  with  the 
plot  against  Bell  she  felt  certain.  l>ut  the  man  was 
coming  now.  he  rc^uKl  only  reach  the  top  of  the  cliffs 


196  THE  CRIMSON  BLIND. 

just  under  the  wall  where  she  was  standing.  Chris 
peered  eagerly  down  into  the  path  of  light  until  the 
intruder  looked  up.  Then  she  jerked  back,  forgetting 
that  she  was  in  the  darkness  and  absolutely  invisible. 
The  action  wiis  disastrous,  however,  for  it  shook  Chris's 
diamond  star  from  her  head,  and  it  fell  gently  almost 
at  the  feet  of  the  climber.  An  instant  later  and  his  eyes 
had  fallen  upon  it. 

"  What  bloomin'  luck,"  he  said,  hoarsely.  "  I  suppose 
that  girl  yonder  must  have  dropped  it  over.  Well,  it 
is  as  good  as  a  couple  of  hundred  pound  to  me,  anyway. 
Little  missie,  you'd  better  take  a  tearful  farewell  of 
your  lumps  of  sugar,  as  you'll  never  see  them  again." 

To  Chris's  quivering  indignation  he  slipped  the  star 
into  his  breast-pocket.  Just  for  the  moment  the  giri 
was  on  the  point  of  crying  out.  She  was  glad  she  had 
refrained  a  second  after,  for  a  really  brilliant  thought 
occurred  to  her.  She  had  never  evolved  anything  more 
clever  in  her  life,  but  she  did  not  quite  realise  tliat  as  yet. 

Nearer  and  nearer  the  man  with  the  maimed  thumb 
came.  Chris  stepped  back  into  the  shadow.  She 
waited  till  the  intruder  had  slipped  past  her  in  the 
direction  of  the  castle,  and  prepared  to  follow  at  a  dis- 
creet distance.  Whatever  he  was  after,  she  felt  sure 
he  was  being  ordered  and  abetted  by  Reginald  Henson. 
Two  minutes,  five  minutes,  elapsed  before  she  moved. 

What  was  that  ?  Surely  a  voice  somewhere  near  her 
moaning  for  help.  Chris  stood  perfectly  still,  hstening 
for  the  next  cry.  Her  sense  of  humanity  had  been 
touched,  she  had  forgotten  Merritt  entirely.  Again  the 
stifled  cry  for  help  came. 

"  Who  are  you  ?  "  Chris  shouted-  "  And  where  are 
you  ?  " 

"  Henson,"  came  the  totally  unexpected  reply.  "  I'm 
down  below  on  a  ledge  of  rock.  No,  I'm  not  particu- 
larly badly  hurt,  but  I  dare  not  move." 

Chris  paused  for  a  moment,  utterly  bewildered- 
Henson  must  have  been  on  the  look-out  for  his  accom- 
plice, she  thought,  and  had  missed  liis  footing  and  fallen. 
Pity  he  had  not  fallen  a  little  farther,  she  murmured 
bitterly,  and  broken  his  neck.     But  this  was  only  for  a 


GONE  I  197 

moment,  and  her  sense  of  justice  and  humanity  speedily 
returned. 

"  I  cannot  see  anything  of  you,"  she  said. 

"  All  the  same,  I  can  see  your  outline,"  Hanson  said, 
dismally.  "  I  don't  feel  quite  so  frightened  now.  I 
can  hang  on  a  bit  longer,  especially  now  I  know  assist- 
ance is  at  hand.  At  first  I  began  to  be  afraid  that  I 
was  a  prisoner  for  the  night-  No  ;  don't  go.  If  I  had 
a  rope  I  should  have  the  proper  confidence  to  swarm 
up  again.  And  there  is  a  coil  of  rope  in  the  arbour  close 
by  you-  Hang  it  straight  down  over  that  middle  boulder 
and  fasten  your  end  round  one  of  those  iron  pilasters." 

The  rope  was  there  as  Henson  stated  ;  indeed,  he  had 
placed  it  there  himself.  With  the  utmost  coolness  and 
courage  Chris  did  as  she  was  desired.  But  it  took  some 
little  time  to  coax  the  rope  to  go  over  in  the  proper 
direction.  There  was  a  little  mutter  of  triumph  from 
below,  and  presently  Henson,  with  every  appearance 
of  utter  exhaustion,  chmbed  over  the  ledge  to  the  terrace. 
At  the  same  moment  an  owl  hooted  twice  from  the  long 
belt  of  trees  at  the  bottom  of  the  garden. 

"  I  hope  you  are  none  the  worse  for  your  adventure  ?  " 
Chris  asked,  pohtely. 

Henson  said  sententiously  that  he  fancied  not.  His 
familiarity  with  the  chfFs  had  led  him  too  far.  If  he 
had  not  fallen  on  a  ledge  of  rock  goodness  only  knows 
what  might  have  happened.  Would  Chris  be  so  good 
as  to  lend  him  the  benefit  of  her  arm  back  to  the  castle  ? 
Chris  was  graciously  willing,  but  she  was  full  of  curiosity 
at  the  same  time.  Had  Henson  really  been  in  danger, 
or  was  the  whole  thing  some  part  of  an  elaborate  and 
cunning  plot  ?  Henson  knew  perfectly  well  that  she 
had  taken  m  great  fancy  to  the  upper  terrace,  and  he 
might 

Really  it  was  difl5cult  to  know  what  to  tliink.  They 
passed  slowly  along  till  the  lights  liere  and  there  from 
the  castle  shone  on  their  faces.  At  the  same  time  a 
carriage  had  driven  up  to  the  hall  door  and  a  visitor 
was  getting  out.  With  a  strange  sense  of  eagerness  and 
pleasure  Chris  recognised  the  handsome  features  and 
misshapen  shape  of  Hatherly  Bell. 


iqs  the  crimson  blind. 

"  The  expected  guest  has  arrived,"  Henson  said. 

There  was  such  a  queer  mixture  of  snarling  anget 
and  exulting  triumph  in  his  voice  that  Chris  looked  up. 
Just  for  an  instant  Henson  had  droj)ped  the  mask.  A 
ray  of  light  from  the  open  door  streamed  full>  across 
his  face.  The  malignant  i)Ieasure  of  it  startled  Chris. 
Like  a  flash  she  began  to  see  how  she  had  been  used  by 
those  miscreants. 

"  He  is  very  handsome,"  she  contrived  to  say,  steadily. 

"  Handsome  is  that  handsome  does,"  Henson  quoted. 
"  Let  us  hope  that  Dr.  Bell  will  succeed  in  his  mission. 
He  has  my  best  wishes." 

Chris  turned  away  and  walked  slowly  as  possible  up 
the  stairs.  Another  minute  with  that  slimy  hypocrite 
and  she  felt  she  must  betray  herself.  Once  out  of  sight 
she  flew  along  the  corridor  and  snapped  up  the  electric 
light.  She  fell  back  with  a  stifled  cry  of  dismay,  but 
8he  was  more  sorrowful  than  surprised. 

"  I  expected  it,"  she  said.  "  I  knew  that  this  was 
the  thing  they  were  after.!' 

Th«  precious  copy  of  Rembrandt  was  no  longer  tbfere  * 


CHAPTER    XXXI. 

BELL    ARRIVES. 

There  were  more  sides  to  the  mystery  than  David  Steel 
imagined.  It  had  seemed  to  him  that  he  had  pretty 
well  all  the  threads  in  his  hands,  but  he  would  have 
been  astonished  to  know  how  much  more  Hatherly  Bell 
and  Enid  Henson  could  have  told  him. 

But  it  seemed  to  Bell  that  there  was  one  very  ira- 

{)ortant  thing  to  be  done  before  he  proceeded  any  farther. 
ie  was  interested  in  the  mystery  as  he  was  interested 
in  anything  where  crime  and  cunning  played  a  part. 
But  he  was  still  more  intent  upon  clearing  his  good 
name  ;  besides,  this  would  give  him  a  wider  field  of 
action. 

In  the  light  of  recent  discoveries  it  had  become  im- 
perative that  he  should  once  more  be  on  good  terms 
with  Lord  Littinicr.  Once  this  was  accomplished,  Bell 
saw  his  way  to  the  clearing  up  of  the  whole  complica- 
tion. It  was  a  great  advantage  to  know  who  his  enemy 
was  ;  it  was  a  still  greater  advantage  to  discover  the 
hero  of  the  cigar-case  and  the  victim  of  the  outrage 
in  Steel's  conservatory  was  the  graceless  scamp  Van 
Sneck,  the  picture  dealer,  who  had  originally  sold  "  The 
Crimson  Blind  "  to  Lord  Littimer. 

It  was  all  falling  out  beautifully.  Not  only  had  Van 
Sneck  turned  up  in  the  nick  of  time,  but  he  was  not  in 
a  position  to  do  any  further  mischief.  It  suited  Boll 
exactly  that  Van  Sneck  should  be  hors  dt  combat  for  the 
moment. 


»oo  THE  CRIMSON  BLIND. 

The  first  thing  to  be  done  was  to  see  Lord  Littimoi 
without  delay.  Bell  had  no  idea  of  humbly  soliciting 
an  interview.  He  proceeded  to  a  telegraph  office  the 
first  thing  the  following  morning  and  wired  Littimer 
to  the  effect  that  he  must  see  him  on  important  business. 
He  had  an  hour  or  two  at  his  disposal,  so  he  took  a 
cab  as  far  as  Downend  Terrace.  He  found  Steel  slug- 
hunting  in  the  conservatory,  the  atmosphere  of  which 
was  blue  with  cigarette  smoke. 

"  So  you  are  not  working  this  morning  ?  "  he  asked. 

"  How  the  dickens  can  I  work  ?  "  David  exclaimed, 
irritably.  "  Not  that  I  haven't  been  trying.  I  might 
just  as  well  take  a  long  holiday  till  this  mystery  is  cleared 
up  for  all  the  good  I  am.     What  is  the  next  move  ?  " 

"  My  next  move  is  to  go  to  Littimer  and  convince 
him  that  he  has  done  me  a  great  wrong.  I  am  bound 
to  have  Littimer's  ear  once  more." 

"  You  are  going  to  show  him  the  spare  Rembrandt, 
eh?" 

"  That's  it.  I  flatter  myself  I  shall  astonish  him.  I've 
sent  a  telegram  to  say  I'm  coming  to-day,  after  which 
I  shall  proceed  to  storm  the  citadel.  I  feel  all  the  safer 
because  nobody  knows  I  have  the  engraving." 

"  My  dear  chap,  somebody  knows  you  have  the 
picture." 

"  Impossible  !  "  Bell  exclaimed.  "  Only  yourself  and 
Enid  Henson  can  possibly  be  aware  that " 

"  All  the  same,  I  am  speaking  the  truth,"  David  said. 
"  Last  night  when  you  went  into  the  hospirai  you  gave 
me  the  print  to  take  care  of.  At  the  same  time  I  noticed 
a  rough-looking  man  presumedly  asleep  on  the  seat 
in  the  road  facing  the  hospital.  Afterwards  when  I 
looked  round  he  had  disappeared.  At  the  time  I  thought 
nothing  of  it.  Wlien  I  came  in  here  I  placed  the  precious 
roll  of  paper  on  my  writing-table  under  the  window 
yonder.  The  window  is  a  small  one,  as  yoa  can  see, 
and  was  opened  about  a  foot  at  the  top.  I  sat  here 
with  the  light  down  and  the  room  faintly  illuminated 
by  the  light  in  the  conservatory.  After  a  little  time  I 
•aw  a  hand  and  arm  groping  for  something  on  the  taWe, 
and  I'n:!  quite  sure  the  hand  and  arm  were  groping  for 


BELL    ARRIVES-  301 

your  Rembrandt.  The  fellow  muttered  something  that 
I  failed  to  understand,  and  I  made  a  grab  for  him  and 
got  him.  Then  the  other  hand  made  a  dash  for  my  head 
with  an  ugly  piece  of  gas-f>iping,  and  I  had  to  let  go." 

"  And  you  saw  no  more  of  the  fellow  ?  " 

"  No  ;  I  didn't  expect  to.  I  couldn't  see  his  face, 
but  there  was  one  peculiarity  he  had  that  I  might  tell 
you  for  your  future  guidance.  He  had  a  thumb  smashed 
as  flat  as  the  head  of  a  snake,  with  one  tiny  pink  nail 
in  the  middle  of  it.  So,  if  you  meet  a  man  like  that  on 
your  journey  to-day,  look  to  yourself.  On  the  whole, 
you  see  that  our  enemies  are  a  little  more  awake  than 
you  give  them  credit  for." 

Bell  nodded  thoughtfully.  The  information  was  of 
the  greatest  possible  value  to  him.  It  told  him  quite 
plainly  that  Reginald  Henson  knew  exactly  what  had 
happened.  Under  ordinary  circumstances  by  this  time 
Henson  would  be  on  his  way  to  Littimer  Castle,  there 
to  checkmate  the  man  he  had  so  deeply  injured.  But 
fortunately  Henson  was  laid  by  the  heels,  or  so  Bell 
imagined. 

"  I  am  really  obliged  to  you,"  Bell  said.  "  Your  in- 
formation is  likely  to  be  of  the  greatest  possible  service 
to  me.     I'm  sorry  you  can't  work." 

"  Don't  worry  about  me,"  David  said,  grimly.  "  I'm 
gaining  a  vast  quantity  of  experience  that  will  be  of  the 
greatest  value  to  me  later  on.  Besides,  I  can  go  and 
compare  notes  with  Miss  Ruth  Gates  whilst  you  are 
away.     She  is  soothing." 

"  So  I  should  ima;,'ine,"  Bell  said,  drily.  "  No,  I 
must  he  off.  I'll  let  you  know  what  happens  at  Littimer 
Castle.     Good  luck  to  you  here." 

And  Bell  bustled  off.  He  was  pleased  to  find  a  recent 
telegram  of  acceptance  from  Littimer  awaiting  him,  and 
before  five  o'clock  he  was  in  the  train  for  London.  It 
was  only  after  he  left  London  that  he  began  to  crawl 
along.  Tlianks  to  slow  local  lines  and  a  badly  fitting 
cross  service  it  was  nearly  eleven  o'clock  before  he 
reached  Moreton  Station.  It  did  not  matter  much, 
t)ecauiie  Littimer  had  said  that  a  carriage  should  meet 
him. 


202  THE  CRIMSON   BLIND, 

However,  there  was  no  conveyance  of  any  kind  ont- 
side  the  station.  One  sleepy  porter  had  already  de* 
parted,  and  the  other  one,  who  took  Bell's  ticket,  and 
was  obviously  waiting  to  lock  up,  deposed  that  a  carriage 
from  the  castle  had  come  to  the  station,  but  that  some 
clerical  gentleman  had  come  along  and  countermanded 
it.     Whereupon  the  dog-cart  had  departed. 

"  Very  strange,"  Bell  muttered.  "  What  sort  of  a 
parson  was  it  ?  " 

"  I  only  just  saw  his  face,"  the  porter  yawned. 
*'  Dressed  in  black,  with  a  white  tie  and  a  straw  hat. 
Walked  in  a  slouching  kind  of  way  with  his  hands  down  ; 
new  curate  from  St.  Albans,  perhaps.  Looked  like  a 
chap  as  could  take  care  of  himself  in  a  row." 

"  Thanks,"  Bell  said,  curtly.  "  I'll  manage  the  walk ; 
it's  only  two  mUes.     Good-night." 

Bell's  face  was  grim  and  set  as  he  stepped  out  into 
the  road.  He  knew  fairly  well  what  this  meant.  It 
was  pretty  evident  that  his  arch-enemy  knew  his  move- 
ments perfectly  well,  and  that  a  vigorous  attempt  was 
being  made  to  prevent  him  reaching  the  castle.  He 
called  back  to  the  porter. 

"  How  long  since  the  carriage  went  ?  "  he  asked. 

A.  voice  from  the  darkness  said  "  Ten  minutes,"  and 
Bell  trudged  on  with  the  knowledge  that  one  of  his 
enemies  at  least  was  close  at  hand.  That  Reginald 
Hcnson  was  at  the  castle  he  had  not  the  remotest  idea. 
Nor  did  he  fear  personal  violence.  Desj)ite  his  figure, 
he  was  a  man  of  enormous  strength  and  courage.  But 
he  had  not  long  to  wait. 

Somebody  was  coming  down  the  lonely  road  towards 
him,  somebody  in  clerical  attire.  The  stranger  stopped 
and  politely,  if  a  little  huskily,  inquired  if  he  was  on 
the  right  way  to  More  ton  Station.  Bell  responded  as 
pr>litely  that  he  was,  and  asked  to  know  the  time.  Not 
that  he  cared  anything  about  the  time  ;  what  he  really 
wanted  was  to  see  the  stranger's  hands.  The  little  ruse 
was  successful.  In  the  dim  light  Bell  could  see  a  flattened, 
hideous  thumb  with  the  pink  parody  of  a  nail  upon  it. 

"  Thanks,  very  much,"  he  said,  crisply.  '  Keep 
straight  oa." 


BELL    ARRIVES.  203 

He  half  turned  as  the  stranger  swung  round.  The 
latter  darted  at  Bell,  but  he  came  too  late.  Bell's  fist 
shot  out  and  cau.^ht  him  fairly  on  the  forehead.  Then 
the  stick  in  Bell's  left  hand  came  down  with  crushing 
force  on  the  prostrate  man's  skull.  So  utterly  dazed 
and  surprised  was  he  that  he  lay  on  the  ground  for  a 
moment,  panting  heavily. 

"  You  murderous  ruffian,"  Bell  gasped.  "  You  es- 
caped convict  in  an  honest  man's  clothes.  Get  up  ! 
So  you  are  the  fellow " 

He  paused  suddenly,  undesirous  of  letting  the  rascal 
see  that  he  knew  too  much.  The  other  man  rolled  over 
suddenly  like  a  cat  and  made  a  dash  for  a  gap  in  the 
hedge.  He  was  gone  like  a  flash.  Pursuit  would  be 
useless,  for  pace  was  not  Bell's  strong  point.  And  he 
was  not  fearful  of  being  attacked  again. 

"  Henson  seems  to  be  pretty  well  served,"  he  mut- 
tered, grimly. 

Meanwhile,  the  man  with  the  thumb  was  flying  over 
the  fields  in  the  direction  of  Littimer.  He  made  his 
way  across  country  to  the  cliffs  with  the  assured  air  of 
one  who  knows  every  inch  of  the  ground.  He  had 
failed  in  the  first  part  of  his  instructions,  and  there  was 
no  time  to  be  lost  if  he  was  to  carry  out  the  second  part 
successfully. 

He  struck  the  cliffs  at  length  a  mile  or  so  away,  and 
proceeded  to  scramble  along  them  till  he  lay  hidden 
just  under  the  terraces  at  Littimer  Castle.  He  knew 
that  he  was  in  time  for  this  part  of  the  programme, 
despite  the  fact  that  his  head  ached  considerably  from 
the  force  and  vigour  of  Bell's  assault.  He  lay  there,  pant- 
ing and  breathing  heavily,  waiting  for  the  signal  to  come. 

Meanwhile,  Bell  was  jogging  along  ])lacidly  and  with 
no  fear  in  his  heart  at  all.  He  ditl  not  need  anybody 
tc  tell  him  what  was  the  object  of  his  late  antagonist's 
attack.  He  knew  perfectly  well  that  if  the  ruffian  had 
got  the  better  of  him  he  would  never  have  seen  the 
Rembrandt  again.  Henson's  hounds  were  on  the  track  ; 
but  it  would  go  hard  if  they  pulled  the  quarry  down 
just  as  the  snnctuary  was  in  sight.  Presently  Bell  could 
9et  the  lights  of  the  castle. 


204  THE  CRIMSON   BLIND 

By  the  lodpe-gates  stood  a  dog-cart ;  in  the  flare  of 
the  lamps  Bell  recognised  the  features  of  the  driver,  a 
very  old  servant  of  Littimer's.  BcU  took  in  the  situation 
at  a  glance. 

"  Is  this  the  way  you  come  for  me,  Lund  ?  "  he  asked. 

"  I'm  very  sorry,  sir, '  Lund  replied.  "  But  a  clergy- 
man near  the  station  said  you  had  gone  another  way, 
so  I  turned  back.  And  when  I  got  here  I  couldn't  make 
top  nor  tail  of  the  story.  Blest  if  I  wasn't  a  bit  nervous 
that  it  might  have  been  some  plant  to  rob  you.  And 
I  was  going  to  drive  slowly  along  to  the  station  again 
when  you  turned  up." 

"  Oh,  there's  nothing  wrong,"  said  Bell,  cheerfully. 
"  And  I  don't  look  as  if  I'd  come  to  any  hanru  Any- 
body staying  at  the  castle,  Lund  ?  " 

"  Only  Mr.  Reginald  Henson,  sir,"  Lund  said,  dis- 
paragingly. 

Bell  started,  but  his  emotion  was  lost  in  the  darkness. 
It  came  as  a  great  surprise  to  him  to  find  that  the  enemy 
was  actually  in  the  field.  And  how  apprehensive  of 
danger  he  must  be  to  come  so  far  with  his  health  in  so 
shattered  a  condition.  Bell  smiled  to  himself  as  he 
pictured  Henson's  face  on  seeing  him  once  more  under 
that  roof. 

"  How  long  has  Mr.  Henson  been  here  ?  "  he  asked. 

"  Only  came  yesterday,  sir.  Shall  I  drive  you  up  to 
the  house  ?  And  if  you  wouldn't  mind  saying  nothing 
to  his  lordship  about  my  mistake,  sir " 

"  Make  your  mind  easy  on  that  score,"  Bell  said, 
drily.  "  His  lordship  shall  know  nothing  whatever 
about  it.  On  the  whole,  I  had  better  drive  up  to  the 
house.     How  famihar  it  aH  looks,  to  be  sure." 

A  minute  later  and  Bell  stood  within  the  walls  of  tiM 
castle. 


CHAPTER   XXXII 

■OW  THE   SCHElfE   WORKED  OUT. 

Chris  crossed  the  corridor  like  one  who  walks  in  a 
dream.  She  had  not  enough  energy  left  to  be  astonished 
even.  Her  mind  travelled  quickly  over  the  events  of 
the  past  hour,  and  she  began  to  see  the  way  clear.  But 
how  had  somebody  or  other  managed  to  remove  the 
picture  ?  Chris  examined  the  spot  on  the  wall  where 
the  Rembrandt  had  been  with  the  eye  of  a  detective. 

That  part  of  the  mystery  was  explained  in  a  moment. 
A  sharp  cutting  instrument,  probably  a  pair  of  steel 
pliers  with  a  lever  attachment,  had  been  apphed  to  the 
head  of  the  four  stays,  and  the  fiat  heads  had  been 
pinched  off  as  clean  as  if  they  had  been  string.  After 
that  it  was  merely  necessary  to  remove  the  frame,  and 
a  child  could  have  done  the  rest. 

"  How  clever  I  am,"  Chris  told  herself,  bitterly. 
"  I'm  like  the  astute  people  who  put  Chubb  locks  on 
Russia  leather  jewel-cases  that  anybody  could  rip  open 
with  a  sixpenny  penknife.  And  in  my  conceit  I  deemed 
the  Rembrandt  to  be  absolutely  safe.  Now  what — what 
is  the  game  ?  " 

It  was  much  easier  to  ask  the  question  than  to  answer 
it.  But  there  were  some  facts  sufficiently  obvious  to 
Chris.  In  the  first  place  she  knew  that  Reginald  Henson 
wa3  at  the  bottom  of  the  whole  thing  ;  she  knew  that 
he  had  traded  on  the  fact  that  she  had  takc.i  a  fancy 
to  the  terrace  as  an  after-dinner  lounge  ;  indeed,  she 
had  told  him  so  earher  in  the  day.     He  had  traded  on 


2o6  THE  CRIMSON   BLIND. 

the  knowlcfU'e  that  he  could  prove  an  ahlii  if  any  sus- 
picions attached  to  him.  The  fart  that  he  was  in  danger 
owing  to  a  shp  on  the  edge  of  the  chff  was  ail  nonsense. 
He  had  not  been  in  any  danger  at  all ;  he  had  seen  Chris 
there,  and  he  had  made  all  that  parade  with  an  eye  to 
the  future.  As  a  matter  of  course,  he  was  down  there 
settling  matters  with  his  accomplice  of  the  maimed 
thumb,  who  had  chosen  the  cliff  way  of  getting  into  the 
castle  as  the  swiftest  and  the  surest  from  detection. 

Yes,  it  was  pretty  obvious  that  the  man  with  the 
thumb  had  stolen  the  print,  and  that  l)y  this  time  he 
was  far  away  with  his  possession.  While  Chris  was 
lielping  Henson  the  lattcr's  accomplice  had  slipped  into 
the  castle  and  effected  the  burglary.  Chris  flicked  out 
the  light  in  the  alcove  as  a  servant  came  along.  It  was 
not  policy  for  any  of  the  domestics  to  be  too  wise.  Chris 
forced  a  smile  to  her  face  as  the  maid  came  along. 

"  Allen,"  she  asked,  "  are  there  many  owls  about 
here  ?  " 

"  Never  a  one  as  I  know,  miss,"  the  maid  responded 
confidently.  "  I've  been  here  for  eleven  years,  and  I 
never  heard  of  such  a  thing.  Clifford,  the  head  keeper, 
couldn't  sleep  at  nights  if  lie  thought  as  there  was  such 
a  thing  on  the  estate.     Have  you  heard  one,  miss  ?  " 

"  I  was  evidently  mistaken,"  Chris  said.  "  Of  course 
you  would  know  best." 

So  the  cry  of  the  owl  had  been  a  signal  of  success. 
Chris  sat  in  the  gloom  there  resolved  to  see  the  comedy 
played  through.  The  events  of  the  night  were  not  over 
yet. 

"  I'd  give  something  to  know  what  has  taken  place 
in  the  dining-room,"  Chris  murnmred. 

She  was  going  to  know  before  long.  The  lights  were 
being  extinguished  all  over  the  hmise.  Henson  came 
up  to  bed  heavily,  as  one  who  is  utterly  worn  out.  At 
the  same  time  he  looked  perfectly  satisfied  with  himself. 
He  might  have  been  a  vigilant  ofBcer  who  had  settled 
all  his  plans  and  was  going  to  seek  a  well-earned  rest 
before  the  enemy  came  on  to  his  destruction.  In  sooth 
Henson  was  utterly  woni  out.  He  had  ta,\ed  his  strength 
to  the  uttermost,  but  he  was  free  to  rest  now. 


HOW  THE  SCHEME  WORKER)  OUT.        207 

Meanwhile,  the  conference  in  the  dining-room  pro- 
ceeded. Lord  Littimer  had  received  his  guest  with 
frigid  politeness,  to  which  Bell  had  responded  with  an 
equally  cold  courtesy.  Littimer  laid  his  cigar  aside  and 
looked  Bell  steadUy  in  the  face. 

"  I  have  granted  your  request  against  my  better  judg- 
ment," he  said.  "  I  am  not  sanguine  that  the  least 
possible  good  can  come  of  it.  But  I  have  quite  grown 
out  of  all  my  illusions ;  I  have  seen  the  impossible 
proved  too  often.     Will  you  take  anything  ?  " 

"  I  hope  to  do  so  presently,"  Bell  said,  pointedly ; 
"  but  not  yet.  In  the  first  instance  I  have  to  prove 
to  you  tliat  I  have  not  stolen  your  Rembrandt." 

"  Indeed  ?  I  should  like  to  know  how  you  propose 
to  do  that." 

"  I  shall  prove  it  at  once.  You  were  under  the  im- 
pression that  you  possessed  the  only  copy  of  the  '  Crim- 
son Blind  '  in  existence.  When  you  lost  yours  and  a 
copy  of  the  picture  was  found  in  my  possession,  you 
were  perfectly  justified  in  believing  that  I  was  the 
thief." 

"  I  did  take  that  extreme  view  of  the  matter,"  Littimer 
said,  drily. 

"  Under  the  circumstances  I  should  have  done  the 
same  thing.  But  you  were  absolutely  wrong,  because 
there  were  two  copies  of  the  picture.  Yours  was  stolen 
by  an  enemy  of  mine  who  had  the  most  urgent  reasons 
for  discrediting  me  in  your  eyes,  and  the  other  was  con- 
cealed amongst  my  belon;:,Mngs,  It  was  no  loss  to  the 
thief,  because  subsequendy  the  stolen  one — my  own  one 
being  restored  to  you — could  have  been  exposed  and 
disposed  of  as  a  new  find.     Your  print  is  in  the  house  ?  " 

"  It  hangs  in  the  gallery  at  the  present  moment." 

"  Very  good.  Then,  my  lord,  what  do  you  say  to 
this  ?  " 

Bell  took  the  roll  of  paper  from  his  pocket,  and  gravely 
flattened  it  out  on  the  table  before  him,  so  that  the  full 
rays  of  the  electric  light  should  fall  upon  it.  Littimer 
was  a  fine  study  of  open-mouthed  surprise.  He  could 
only  stand  there  gaping,  touc:hing  the  stained  paper  wilU 
his  fingers  and  breathing  heavily. 


2oS  THE  CRIMSON   BLIND. 

"  Here*  is  a  facsimile  of  your  treasure,"  Bell  went  oru 
"  Here  is  the  same  thing.  You  are  a  good  judge  on 
these  matters,  and  I  venture  to  say  you  will  call  it  genuine. 
There  is  nothing  of  forgery  about  the  engraving.' 

"  Good  heavens,  no,  '  Littimer  snapped.  Any  fool 
could  see  that." 

"  Which  you  will  admit  is  a  very  great  point  in  my 
favour,"  Bell  said,  gravely. 

"  I  begin  to  think  that  I  have  done  you  a  great  in- 
justice," Littimer  admitted  ;  "  but,  under  the  circum- 
stances, I  don't  see  how  I  could  have  done  anything 
else.  Look  at  that  picture.  It  is  exactly  the  same  as 
mine.  There  is  exactly  the  same  discolouration  in  the 
margin  in  exactly  the  same  place." 

"  Probably  they  lay  flat  on  the  top  of  one  another  for 
scores  of  years." 

"  Possibly.  I  can't  see  the  slightest  difference  in  the 
smallest  particular.  Even  now  I  cannot  rid  myself  of 
the  feeling  that  I  am  the  victim  of  some  kind  of  plot  or 
delusion.  The  house  is  quiet  now  and  there  is  nobody 
about.  Before  I  believe  the  evidence  of  my  senses — 
and  I  have  had  cause  to  doubt  them  more  than  once— 
I  should  like  to  compare  this  print  with  mine.  Will 
you  follow  me  to  the  gallery,  if  you  haven't  forgotten 
the  way  ?  " 

Littimer  took  up  the  treasure  from  the  table  gingerly. 

He  was  pleaded  and  at  the  same  time  disappointed  ; 
pleased  to  find  that  he  had  been  mistaken  all  these 
years,  sorry  in  the  knowledge  that  his  picture  was  unique 
no  longer.  He  said  nothing  until  the  alcove  was  reached, 
and  Chris  drew  back  in  the  shadow  to  let  the  others  pass. 

"  Now  to  settle  the  question  for  all  time,"  Littimer 
said.  "  Will  you  be  so  good  as  to  turn  on  the  electric 
light  ?  You  will  find  the  switch  in  the  angle  of  the 
wall  on  your  right.  And  when  we  have  settled  the 
affair  and  I  have  apologized  to  you  m  due  form,  you 
shall  command  my  services  and  my  purse  to  right  the 
wrong.  If  it  costs  me  £10,000  the  man  who  has  done 
this  thing  shall  suffer.     Please  to  put  up  the  light,  Bell." 

Chris  listened  breathlessly.  She  was  not  quite  certain 
what  she  was  about  to  see.     She  could  hear  Bell  fumbling 


HOW  THE  SCHEME  WORKED  OUT.       209 

for  the  light,  she  heard  the  click  of  the  switch,  and  then 
she  saw  the  brilliant  belt  of  flame  flooding  the  alcove. 
Littimer  paused  and  glanced  at  Bell,  the  latter  looked 
round  the  alcove  as  if  seeking  for  something. 

"  I  cannot  see  the  picture  here,"  he  said.  "  If  I  have 
made  a  mistake " 

Littimer  stood  looking  at  the  speaker  with  eyes  hke 
blazing  stars.  Just  for  a  moment  or  two  he  was  speech- 
less with  indignation. 

"  You  charlatan,"  he  said,  hoarsely.  "  You  bare- 
faced trickster." 

Bell  started  back.  His  mute  question  stung  Littimer 
to  the  quick. 

"  You  wanted  to  be  cleared,"  the  latter  said.  "  You 
wanted  to  befool  me  again.  You  come  here  in  some 
infernally  cunning  fashion,  you  steal  my  picture  from 
the  frame  and  have  the  matchless  audacity  to  pass  it 
off  for  a  second  one.  Man  alive,  if  it  were  earher  I 
would  have  you  flogged  from  the  house  like  the  un- 
grateful dog  that  you  are." 

Chris  checked  down  the  cry  that  rose  to  her  lips. 
She  saw,  as  in  a  flash  of  lightning,  the  brilliancy  and 
simplicity  and  cunning  of  Henson's  latest  and  most 
■lasterly  scheme. 


CHAPTER    XXXIII. 

THE     FRAME     OF     THE     PICTURE. 

After  the  first  passionate  outburst  of  scorn  Lord  LittJ* 
mer  looked  at  his  visitor  quietly.  There  was  something 
almost  amusing  in  the  idea  that  Bell  should  attempt 
such  a  trick  upon  him.  And  the  listener  was  thoroughly 
enjoying  the  scene  now.  There  was  quite  an  element 
of  the  farcical  about  it.  In  the  brilliant  light  she  could 
see  Littimer's  dark,  bitter  face  and  the  helpless  amaze- 
ment on  the  strong  features  of  Hatherly  Bell.  And, 
meanwhile,  the  man  who  had  brought  the  impossible 
situation  about  was  calmly  sleeping  after  his  strenuous 
exertions. 

Chris  smiled  to  herself  as  she  thought  out  her  brilliant 
coup.  It  looked  to  her  nothing  less  than  a  stroke  of 
genius,  two  strokes,  in  fact,  as  will  be  seen  presently. 
Before  many  hours  were  over  Henson's  position  in  the 
house  would  be  seriously  weakened.  He  had  done  a 
clever  thing,  but  Chris  saw  her  way  to  a  cleverer  one 
still. 

Meanwhile  the  two  men  were  regarding  one  another 
suspiciously.  On  a  round  Chippendale  tai)le  the  offend- 
ing Rembrandt  lay  between  them. 

"  I  confess,"  Bell  said,  at  length,  "  I  confess  that 
I  am  utterly  taken  by  surprise.  And  yet  I  need  not  be 
so  astonished  when  I  come  to  think  of  the  amazing 
cunning  and  audacity  of  my  antagonist.  He  has  more 
foresight  than  myself.  Lord  Littimc-r,  will  you  be  so 
kind  as  to  repeat  your  last  observation  over  again  ?  " 


THE   FRAME   OF   THE  PICTURE.        211 

"  I  will  emphasize  it,  if  you  like  ?  "  Littimcr  replied. 
"  For  some  deep  purpjse  of  your  own,  you  desired  to 
make  friends  with  me  again.  You  tell  me  you  are  in 
a  position  to  clear  your  character.  Very  foolishly  I 
consent  to  see  you.  You  come  here  with  a  roll  of  paper 
in  your  possession  purporting  to  be  a  second  copy  of 
ray  famous  print.  AH  the  time  you  knew  it  to  be  mine 
— mine,  stolen  an  hour  or  two  ago  and  passed  instantly 
to  you.  Could  audacity  go  farther  ?  And  then  you 
ask  me  to  believe  that  you  came  down  from  town  with 
a  second  engraving  in  your  possession." 

"  As  I  hope  to  be  saved,  I  swear  it !  "  Bell  cried. 

"  Of  course  you  do.  A  man  with  your  temerity  would 
swear  anything.  Credulous  as  I  may  be,  I  am  not 
credulous  enough  to  believe  that  my  picture  would  be 
stolen  again  at  the  very  time  that  you  found  yours." 

"  Abstracted  by  my  enemy  on  purpose  to  land  me  in 
this  mess." 

"  Ridiculous,"  Littimer  cried.  "  Pshaw,  I  am  a  fool 
to  stand  here  arguing  ;  I  am  a  fool  to  let  you  stay  in 
the  house.  Why,  I  don't  believe  you  could  bring  a 
solitary  witness  to  prove  that  yonder  picture  was 
yours." 

"  You  are  mistaken,  my  lord.     I  could  bring  several." 

"  Credible  witnesses  ?  Witnesses  whose  characters 
would  bear  investigation  ?  " 

"  I  fancy  so,"  Bell  said,  quietly.  "  Two  nights  ago, 
for  instance,  I  showed  the  very  picture  lying  before  you 
to  a  lady  of  your  acquaintance.  Miss  Enid  Henson.  I 
couldn't  have  had  your  picture  two  nights  ago,  could  I  ? 
And  Miss  Henson  was  graciously  pleased  to  observe  that 
1  had  been  made  the  victim  of  a  vile  conspiracy." 

"  Why  do  you  insult  me  by  mentioning  that  name  ?  " 
Littimer  said,  hoarsely.  His  face  was  very  pale,  and 
sombre  anger  smouldered  in  his  eyes.  "  Tell  me  you 
showed  the  thing  to  my  wife  next." 

"  I  did,"  said  Bell,  coolly.  "  Lady  Littimer  was  in 
the  room  at  the  lime." 

Something  like  a  groan  escaped  from  Littimer's  pallid 
lips.  The  smouldering  light  in  his  eyes  ilaslu'd  into 
flame.     He  advanced  upon  Bell  with  a  quivering,  up- 


2IJ  THE  CRIMSON   BLIND. 

lifted  arm.  Chris  slipped  swiftly  out  of  the  shade  and 
stood  between  the  two  men. 

['  Dr.  Boll  speaks  the  truth."  she  said.  "  And  I  am 
goinc;  to  prove  it." 

Lit  timer  dropped  into  a  chair  and  gave  way  to  silent 
laughter.  His  mood  had  changed  utterly.  He  lounged 
there,  a  cynical,  amused  man  of  the  world  again. 

"  Upon  my  word,  I  am  vastly  obliged  to  you  for  your 
comedy,"  he  said.  "  I  hope  your  salary  as  leading  lady 
in  Boll's  company  is  a  handsome  one,  Miss  Lee." 

"  Let  us  hope  that  it  is  more  handsome  than  your 
manners,  my  lord,"  Chris  said,  tartly.  "  I  beg  to  re- 
mark that  I  have  never  seen  Dr.  Bell  before.  Oh,  yes, 
I  have  been  listening  to  your  conversation,  because  I 
expected  something  of  the  kind.  The  Rembrandt  was 
stolen  some  time  before  Dr.  Bell  arrived  here,  and  in 
due  course  I  shall  show  you  the  thief.  Lord  Littimer, 
I  implore  you  to  be  silent  and  discreet  in  this  matter. 
Have  a  little  patience.  Quite  by  accident  I  have  made 
an  important  discovery,  but  this  is  hardly  the  place  to 
discuss  it.  Before  daylight  I  hope  to  be  able  to  prove 
beyond  question  that  you  have  greatly  wronged  Dr. 
Bell." 

"  I  shall  be  glad  to  be  convinced  of  it,"  Littimer  said, 
sincerely.     "  But  why  tills  secrecy  ?  " 

"  Secrecy  is  absolutely  necessary  for  the  conviction  of 
the  thief." 

BeU  looked  eagerly  at  the  speaker. 

"  I  have  not  the  remotest  notion  who  this  young  lady 
IS,"  he  said,  "  but  I  am  greatly  obliged  to  her." 

"  My  secretary,  Miss  Lee,"  Littimer  murmured  ;  "  an 
American  from  Boston,  and  evidently  a  great  deal 
cleverer  than  I  gave  her  credit  for,  which  is  saying  a 
great  deal.  Miss  Lee,  if  you  know  anythifag,  I  implore 
you  to  speak." 

"  Not  here,"  Chris  said,  firmly.  "  Stone  walls  have 
ears.  I  tell  you  the  Rembrandt  was  stolen  just  before 
Dr.  Bell  reached  the  house.  Also  I  tell  you  it  is  im- 
perative that  nobody  but  ourselves  must  know  the  fact 
for  the  present.     You  trust  me,  Lord  Littimer  ?  " 

"  I  trust  you  as  iraphcitly  as  I  do  anybody." 


THE  FRAME  OF   THE  PICTURE.         213 

Chris  smiled  at  the  diplomatic  response.  She  ap- 
proached the  panel  of  the  wall  on  which  the  Rembrandt 
had  been  fastened.  She  indicated  the  long  steel  stays 
which  had  been  clamped  on  to  the  iron  frame.  "  Look 
at  them,"  she  said.  "  It  was  my  suggestion  that  the 
stays  should  be  attached  to  the  frame  to  prevent  any- 
thing like  this  robbery.  I  made  the  stays  secure  myself. 
And  what  happened  to  justify  my  prudence  ?  Why, 
the  very  same  night  somebody  came  here  after  the 
picture." 

"  Henson  1  *'  Littimer  cried.  "  Ah  !  But  he  could 
have  come  openly." 

"  It  is  not  in  the  nature  of  the  man  to  do  things 
openly,"  Chris  went  on.  "  I  know  more  about  the  man 
than  you  imagine,  but  that  you  are  to  keep  to  yourself. 
He  comes  here  in  the  dead  of  the  night  and  he  gets 
into  the  house  through  an  upstair  window.  A  man  of 
his  bulk,  if  you  please  !  And  he  comes  here  hot-foot 
and  breathless  at  a  time  when  common  pmdence  should 
have  kept  him  in  bed.  \Vhy  ?  Because  he  knows  that 
Dr.  Bell  has  the  other  Rembrandt  and  will  come  to 

Erove  it,  and  because  he  knows  that  if  he  can  steal  the 
ittimer  Rembrandt  he  can  precipitate  the  very  im- 
passe that  he  has  brought  about.  But  he  could  not 
steal  the  picture  because  it  was  fast." 

"  You  are  a  very  clever  young  lady,"  Littimer  said, 
drily.  "  You  will  telJ  me  ne.xt  that  you  expected  Henson 
to  try  this  thing  on." 

"  I  did,"  Chris  said,  coolly.  "  I  had  a  telegram  to 
warn  me  so." 

Littimer  smiled.  All  this  mystery  and  cleverness 
was  after  his  own  heart.  He  lighted  his  cigarette  and 
tendered  his  case  in  the  friendliest  possible  manner  tc 
Bell. 

"  Go  on,"  he  said,  "  I  am  deeply  interested." 

"  I  prefer  not  to  go  into  details,'  Chris  resumed.  "  All 
I  ask  you  to  do  is  to  be  entirely  guided  by  me  when 
you  have  hoard  my  story.  I  have  admitted  to  you  that 
I  knew  when  Henson  was  coming,  and  why  am  I  in- 
terested ?  Because  it  happens  that  Reginald  Honson 
has  greatly  injured  someone  I  cared  for  deeply.     Well, 


ai4  THE  CRIMSON  BLIND. 

I  fastened  up  the  picture — he  came.  He  sneaked  in  lik« 
the  thief  that  he  was  because  his  accompHce  and  tool 
had  failed  to  save  him  the  trouble.  Lord  Littimer,  I 
will  not  pain  you  by  saying  who  Henson's  accomplice 
was." 

Latimer  nodded  gloomily. 

"  Not  that  I  blame  that  accomplice  ;  he  coald  not 
help  himself.  Ah,  when  the  whole  truth  comes  to  l.« 
told,  what  a  black  business  it  will  be.  Well,  Hcnson 
came  to  steal  the  picture  and  I  caught  him  in  the  act. 
If  you  had  seen  his  fat,  greasy,  crestfallen  face  !  Then 
he  pretended  that  it  was  all  done  for  a  jest  and  as  a 
warning  to  Lord  Littimer.  And  Lord  Littimer,  the  most 
cynical  of  men,  allowed  it  to  pass." 

"  I  couldn't  see  what  he  had  to  gain,"  Littimer  pleaded. 
"  I  don't  now,  as  a  matter  of  fact." 

"  Neither  will  you  for  the  present,"  said  Chris.  "  Still, 
you  will  be  so  good  as  to  assume  the  same  hospitality  and 
courtesy  towards  Henson  as  you  extend  at  present." 

"  I  daresay  I  can  manage  it,"  said  Littimer,  cynically, 
"  I  used  to  be  a  society  man  once." 

"  Henson  did  not  deceive  me  for  a  moment,"  Chris 
went  on.  "  He  was  bound  to  have  the  picture,  and, 
being  baffled  one  way,  he  tried  another.  Look  here. 
Lord  Littimer.  Let  me  assume  for  a  moment  that 
Dr.  Bell  came  down  here  to  steal  your  picture,  get  rid 
of  the  frame,  and  palm  off  your  own  engraving  for 
another.  Now,  in  the  name  of  common  sense,  let  me 
ask  you  a  single  question.  Could  Dr.  Bell  have  possibly 
known  that  the  frame  of  the  Rembrandt  was  securely 
fastened  to  the  wall  and  that  I  had  attached  it  quite 
recently  ?  And  could  he  in  the  short  time  at  his  dis- 
posal have  procured  the  necessary  tools  to  cit  away 
the  stays  ?  Again,  Dr.  Bell  can  prove,  I  suppose,  exactly 
what  time  he  left  London  to-day.  No,  we  must  look 
farther  for  the  thief." 

"  There  is  something  else  also  we  have  to  look  for," 
said  Dr.  Bell.  "  And  that  is  the  frame.  You  say  it  was 
of  iron  and  consequently  heavy.  The  thief  would  dis- 
card the  frame  and  roll  up  the  print." 

"  That  is  a  brilliant  suggestion,"  said  Chris,  eagerly. 


THE   FRAME  OF  THE  PICTURE.         9x5 

"  And  if  we  only  had  the  frame  I  could  set  Lord  Litti- 
mcr's  doubts  to  rest  entirely.  I  happen  to  know  that 
the  real  thief  came  and  went  by  the  cliff  under  the 
terrace.  If  the  frame  was  thr(^wn  into  the  gorse,  there 
it^ — " 

"  Might  stay  for  ages,"  Littimer  exclaimed.  "  By 
Jove,  I'm  just  in  the  mood  to  carry  this  business  a  stage 
or  two  farther  before  I  go  to  bed.  Bell,  there  are  tw© 
or  three  cycle  lamps  in  the  gun-room.  You  used  to  be 
a  pretty  fearless  climber.  What  do  you  say  to  a  hunt 
round  for  an  hour  or  two  whilst  the  house  is  quiet  ?  " 

Bell  assented  eagerly.  Chris  waited  with  what  pa- 
tience she  could  command  till  daylight  began  to  show 
faintly  and  redly  in  the  east.  Then  she  heard  the  sound 
of  voices  outside,  and  Littimer  and  Bell  staggered  in 
carrying  the  frame  between  them. 

"  Got  it,"  Littimer  exclaimed,  with  the  triumphant 
exultation  of  a  schoolboy  who  has  successfully  looted 
a  rare  bird's-nest.  "  We  found  it  half-way  down  the 
cliff,  hidden  behind  a  patch  of  samphire.  And  it  doesn't 
seem  to  be  any  the  worse  for  the  adventure.  Now, 
Miss  Wiseacre,  seeing  that  we  have  the  frame,  perhaps 
you  will  fulfil  your  promise  of  convincing  me,  once  and 
for  all,  that  yonder  Rembrandt  cannot  possibly  belong 
to  me." 

"  I  am  going  to  do  so,"  Chris  said,  quietly.  "  You 
told  me  you  had  to  cut  the  margin  of  your  print  by  an 
inch  or  so  round  to  fit  that  quaint  old  frame.  So  far 
as  I  can  see,  the  print  before  you  is  quite  intact.  Now, 
if  it  is  too  large  for  the  frame " 

Littimer  nodded  eagerly.  Bell  fitted  the  dingy  paper 
to  the  back  of  the  frame  and  smiled.  There  was  an 
inch  or  more  to  spare  all  round.  Nobody  spoke  for  a 
moment. 

"  You  could  make  it  smaller,  but  you  couldn't  make 
it  bigger,"  Littimer  said.  "  Bell,  when  I  have  suffi- 
ciently recovered  I'll  make  a  humble  and  abject  apology 
to  you.  And  now,  wi^c  woman  from  the  West,  what  is 
the  next  act  in  the  play^?  " 


CHAPTER    XXXIV. 

THE     PUZZLING     OF     HENSON. 

Chris  smiled  with  the  air  of  one  who  is  perfectly  satisfied 
with  her  work. 

"  For  the  present  I  fancy  we  have  done  enough,"  she 
said.  "  I  want  to  go  to  bed  now,  and  I  want  you  both 
to  do  the  same.  Also  I  shall  be  glad  if  you  will  come 
down  in  the  morning  as  if  notliing  had  happened.  Tell 
Reginald  Henson  casually  that  you  have  been  convinced 
that  you  have  done  Dr.  Bell  a  grave  injustice,  and  give 
no  kmd  of  particulars.  And  please  treat  Mr.  Henson 
in  the  same  fashion  as  before.  There  is  only  one  other 
•thing." 

"  Name  it,  and  it  is  yours,"  Littiraer  cried. 

"  Well,  cut  the  margin  off  that  print,  or  at  any  rate 
turn  the  margin  down,  fit  it  into  the  frame,  and  hang  it 
up  as  if  nothing  had  happened." 

Littimer  looked  at  Chris  with  a  puzzled  expression  for 
a  moment,  and  then  his  features  relaxed  into  a  satyr-like 
grin. 

"  Capital,"  he  said,  "  I  quite  understand  what  you 
mean.  And  I  must  be  there  to  see  it,  eh  ? — yes,  I  must 
be  there  to  see.  I  would  not  miss  it  for  strawberry 
leaves." 

The  thing  was  done  and  the  picture  restored  to  its 
place.     Bell  drew  Chris  aside  for  a  moment. 

"  Do  you  rise  early  in  the  morning  ? "  he  asked, 
mraningly, 

szf 


THE  PUZZLING   OF  HENSON.  217 

"  Always,"  Chris  replied,  demurely.  "  I  find  the 
terrace  charming  before  breakfast.     Good-night." 

Bell  was  down  betimes  despite  the  fact  that  it  had 
been  daylight  before  he  was  in  bed.  Along  the  terrace, 
looking  over  the  cliffs,  Chris  was  already  walking,  a  great 
cluster  of  red  and  yellow  roses  in  her  hand.  She  looked 
as  fresh  and  bright  as  if  she  and  excitement  were  stran- 
gers.    All  the  same  she  seemed  to  avoid  Bell's  eyes. 

"  Isn't  it  lovely  here  ?  "  she  exclaimed.  "  And  these 
Toses  with  the  dew  still  upon  them.  Well,  Dr.  Bell,  have 
you  made  fresh  discoveries  ?  " 

"  I  have  discovered  that  Henson  is  going  to  take  his 
breakfast  in  bed,"  Bell  said  gravely.  "  Also  that  he 
requires  a  valet  at  half -past  ten.  At  that  time  I  hope 
to  be  in  the  corridor  with  Lord  Littimer  and  yourself. 
Also  I  have  made  a  further  discovery." 

"  And  what  is  that,  Dr.  Bell  ?  " 

"  That  you  and  I  have  met  before — once  before  when 
I  attended  you  in  a  kind  of  official  capacity,  and  when 
I  behaved  in  a  distinctly  discreditable  professional 
manner.  Dr.  Walker  was  present.  Dr.  Walker  seems 
to  have  been  singularly  short-sighted." 

The  roses  fell  from  Chris's  hands  on  to  the  path.  Her 
face  had  grown  very  pale  indeed  ;  there  was  a  frightened, 
appnrjling  look  in  her  eyes. 

'  Dr.  Bell,"  she  gasped,  "  do  you  suppose  that  any- 
body else  knows — Henson,  for  instance  ?  And  I 
imagined  that  I  had  utterly  deceived  him  1  " 

Bell  smiled  meaningly. 

"  I  don't  think  you  need  have  the  slightest  anxiety 
on  that  score,"  he  said  "  Ycm  see,  Henson  is  comfort- 
ably assured  that  you  are  dead  and  buried.  Whereas 
I  know  all  about  it.  Fortunately  for  me,  I  became 
mixed  up  in  this  strange  business  on  behalf  of  my  friend, 
David  Steel  ;  indeed,  but  for  Steel,  I  shouUl  probably 
have  given  you  away  to  our  friend  Walker." 

"  But  surely  you  guessed  that " 

"  Not  for  the  moment.  You  see,  it  was  only  a  few 
minutes  before  that  a  flood  of  interesting  light  had  been 
let  in  upon  Henson's  character  by  your  sister  to  me, 
and  my  &rst  idea  was  that  Henson  was  poisoning  you 


2i8  THE  CRIMSON   BLIND. 

for  some  purp)ose  of  his  own.  Subsequently  Steel  told 
me  all  about  that  side  of  the  story  on  our  way  back 
to  Brif];hton." 

"  How  did  you  penetrate  my  dis|^ise  ?  " 

"  My  dear  young  lady,  I  have  not  penetrated  your 
disguise.  Your  disguise  is  perfect — so  quaint  and 
daringly  original — and  would  deceive  even  Henson's 
eyes.  I  guessed  who  you  were  directly  I  found  that 
you  were  taking  a  philanthropic  interest  in  our  friend. 
It  came  to  me  by  a  kind  of  intuition,  the  knack  tliat 
stood  me  in  such  good  stead  in  my  professional  days. 
When  you  said  that  you  had  been  warned  of  Henson's 
coming  by  telegram  I  was  certain." 

"  Then  perhaps  you  guessed  that  Enid  sent  me  the 
telegram  ?  " 

"  That  was  obvious.  Also  it  was  obvious  that  Henson 
brought  Frank  Littimer  along." 

"  Oh,  he  did.  It  was  Frank's  mission  to  steal  the 
picture.  I  confronted  him  witli  a  revolver  and  locked 
him  in  one  of  the  bedrooms.  It  took  all  my  courage 
and  good  resolutions  to  prevent  me  from  betraying 
mj'sclf  to  the  poor  fellow." 

"  Rather  cruel  of  you,  wasn't  it  ?  " 

"  Well,  yes.  But  I  wanted  to  make  the  exposure 
as  complete  as  possible.  When  the  time  comes  to  strip 
Reginald  Henson  of  his  pretentions  and  flog  him  from 
the  family,  the  more  evidence  we  can  pile  up  the  better. 
But  Frank  is  not  bad  ;  he  is  merely  weak  and  utterly 
in  the  power  of  tliat  man.  If  we  can  only  break  the 
bonds,  Frank  will  be  a  powerful  factor  on  our  side." 

"  I  daresay.  But  how  was  the  Rembrandt  stolen  ? 
I.ittimer's,  I  mean." 

"  It  was  worked  through  an  accomplice,"  Chris  ex- 
plained. "  It  had  to  be  done  before  you  arrived.  And 
there  was  no  better  time  than  night  for  the  operation. 
I  guessed  that  when  Henson  drew  the  fact  from  me 
that  I  liked  the  terrace  after  dinner.  By  a  bit  of  good 
luck  I  found  the  accomplice  and  himself  together  in  the 
day  ;  in  fact,  I  forced  Reginald's  hand  so  that  he  had 
to  introduce  me  to  the  man." 

"  In  which  case  you  would  know  hira  again  ? " 


THE  PUZZLING  OF  HENSONi  219 

"  Of  course.  Presently  I  am  going  to  show  you  a 
little  more  of  the  comedy.  Well,  I  was  on  the  terrace 
pretty  late  when  I  heard  dear  Reginald  down  the  cliff 
calling  for  assistance.  He  pretended  that  he  had  slipped 
down  the  cliff  and  could  not  get  up  again.  By  the  aid 
of  a  rope  that  fortunately  happened  to  be  close  at  hand 
I  saved  our  dear  friend's  life.  I  have  learnt  from  one 
of  the  gardeners  just  now  that  Reginald  placed  the  rope 
there  himself — a  most  effective  touch,  you  must  admit." 

"  Very,"  Bell  said,  drily.  "  But  I  quite  faU  to  see 
why " 

"  I  am  coming  to  that.  Don't  you  see  that  if  any- 
thing happened  Reginald  could  prove  that  he  was  not 
near  the  house  at  the  time  ?  But  just  before  that  I 
saw  his  accomplice  come  up  the  cliff ;  indeed,  he  passed 
quite  close  to  me  on  his  way  to  the  house.  Reginald 
quite  overlooked  this  fact  in  his  heed  for  his  own  safety. 
When  I  had  effected  my  gallant  rescue  I  heard  an  owl 
hoot.     Now,  there  are  no  owls  about  here. 

"  I  guessed  what  that  meant — it  was  a  signal  of 
success.  Then  I  went  back  to  the  corridor  and  the 
Rembrandt  was  gone.  The  stays  had  been  cut  away. 
At  first  I  was  dreadfully  upset,  but  the  more  I  thought 
of  it  the  more  sure  I  was  that  it  was  all  for  the  best." 

"  But  you  might  have  raised  an  alarm  and  caught  the 
thief,  who " 

"  Who  would  have  been  promptly  disclaimed  by 
Reginald.  Let  me  tell  you,  sir,  that  I  have  the  thief 
and  the  lost  Rembrandt  in  the  hollow  of  my  hands. 
Before  the  day  is  out  I  shall  make  good  my  boast.  And 
there's  the  breakfast  bell." 

It  looked  quite  natural  some  time  later  for  the  three 
conspirators  to  be  lounging  about  the  gallery  when 
Henson  emerged  from  his  i)edroom.  He  apjicared  bright 
and  smiling,  and  most  of  the  bandages  had  been  re- 
moved from  his  thoat.  All  the  same  he  was  not  pleased 
to  see  Bell  tht-re  ;  he  gazed  uneasily  at  the  doctor  and 
from  him  to  Littimer. 

"  You  know  Bell,"  the  latter  said,  carelessly.  "  Fact 
is.  thT'^'s  been  a  great  mislfike." 

Bell  offered  him  his  hand  hoaitily.     It  cost  him  a  huge 


230  THE  CRIMSON   BLIND. 

effort,  but  the  slimy  scoundrel  had  to  be  fought  with  his 
own  weapons.  Henson  shook  his  head  with  the  air  of 
a  man  extending  a  large  and  generous  meed  of  forgive- 
ness. He  sought  in  vain  to  read  Bell's  eyes,  but  there 
was  a  steady,  almost  boyish,  smile  in  them. 

"  I  indeed  rejoice,"  he  said,  unctuously.  "  I  indeed 
rejoice — rejoice — rejoice  !  " 

He  repeated  the  last  word  helplessly ;  he  seemed  to 
have  lost  all  his  backbone,  and  lapsed  into  a  flabby, 
jellified  mass  of  quivering  white  humanity.  His  vacant, 
fishy  eyes  were  fixed  upon  the  Rembrandt  in  a  kind  of 
dull,  sleepy  terror. 

"  I'm  not  well,"  he  gasped.  "  Not  so  strong  as  I 
imagined.  I'^l — I'll  go  and  lie  down  again.  Later  on 
I  shall  want  a  dogcart  to  drive  me  to  Moreton  Wells. 
I " 

He  paused  again,  glanced  at  the  picture,  and  passed 
heavily  to  his  room.     Littimer  smiled. 

"  Splendid,"  he  said.  "  It  was  worth  thousands  just 
to  see  his  face." 

"  All  the  same,"  Chris  said,  quietly  ;  "  all  the  same, 
that  man  is  not  to  leave  for  Moreton  Wells  till  I've  had 
a  clear  hour's  start  of  him.  Dr.  Bell  will  you  accoin* 
pany  me  ?  " 


CHAPTER   XXXV. 

CHRIS   HAS   AN   IDEA. 

Lord  Littimer  polished  his  rarely  used  eye-glass  care- 
fully and  favoured  Chris  with  a  long,  admiring  stare. 
At  the  same  time  he  was  wondering  why  the  girl  should 
have  taken  such  a  vivid  interest  in  Reginald  Henson 
and  his  doings.  For  some  years  past  it  had  been  Litti- 
mer's  whim  to  hold  up  Henson  before  everybody  as  his 
successor,  so  far  as  the  castle  went.  He  liked  to  see 
Henson's  modest  smirk  and  beautiful  self-abasement, 
for  in  sooth  his  lordship  had  a  pretty  contempt  for  the 
man  who  hoped  to  succeed  him.  But  the  wiD  made  some 
time  ago  by  Littimer  would  have  come  as  a  painful  shock 
to  the  philanthropist. 

"  It  IS  a  very  pretty  tangle  as  it  stands,"  he  said. 
"  Miss  Lee,  let  me  compliment  you  upon  your  astute- 
ness in  this  matter.  Only  don't  tell  me  you  schemed 
your  way  here,  and  that  you  are  a  lady  detective.  I 
read  a  good  many  novels,  and  I  don't  like  them." 

"  You  may  be  easy  on  that  score,"  Chris  laughed.  "  I 
am  not  a  lady  detective.  All  the  same,  I  have  defeated 
Mr.  Reginald  Henson." 

"  You  think  he  is  at  the  bottom  of  the  mystery  of 
the  other  Rembrandt." 

"  I  am  certain  of  it ;  unless  you  like  to  believe  ia 
the  truth  of  his  cliarming  scheme  to  give  jrou  a  lesson, 
as  he  called  it.  As  a  matter  of  fact,  Mr.  Henson  dis- 
covered the  existence  of  the  other  print ;   he  discovered 

Ml 


222  THE  CRIMSON   BLIND. 

that  Dr.  Rcll  possessed  it — the  rest  I  leave  to  your  own 
astuteness.     Vou  saw  his  face  just  now  ?  " 

"  Oh,  yes.  It  was  a  fine  study  in  emotions.  If  you 
could  find  the  other  picture " 

"  1  hope  to  restore  it  to  you  before  the  day  has  passed." 

Littimer  applauded,  gently.  He  was  charmed,  he 
said,  with  the  whole  comedy.  The  first  two  acts  had 
been  a  brilliant  success.  If  the  third  was  only  as  good 
he  would  regard  Miss  Lee  as  his  benefactor  for  ever. 
It  was  not  often  that  anybody  intellectually  amused 
him  ;   in  fact,  he  must  add  Miss  Lee  to  his  collection. 

"  Then  you  must  play  a  part  yourself,"  Chris  said, 
gaily.  "  I  am  going  into  Moreton  Wells,  and  Dr.  Bell 
accompanies  me.  Mr.  Henson  is  not  to  know  that  we 
have  gone,  and  he  is  not  to  leave  the  house  for  a  good 
hour  or  so  after  our  departure.  What  I  want  is  a  fair 
start  and  the  privilege  of  bringing  a  guest  home  to 
dinner." 

"  Vague,  mysterious,  and  alluring,"  Littimer  said. 
"  Bring  the  guest  by  all  means.  I  will  pledge  my  diplo- 
macy that  you  have  a  long  start.  Really,  I  don't  know 
when  I  have  enjoyed  myself  so  much.  You  shall  have 
the  big  waggonette  for  your  journey." 

"  And  join  it  beyond  the  lodge-gates,"  Chris  said, 
thoughtfully.  "  Dr.  Bell,  you  shall  stroll  through  the 
park  casually  ;    I  will  follow  as  casually  later  on." 

A  little  later  Henson  emerged  from  his  room  dressed 
evidently  for  a  journey.  He  looked  flabby  and  worried  ; 
there  was  an  expression  very  like  fear  in  his  eyes.  The 
corridor  was  deserted  as  he  passed  the  jilace  where  the 
Rembrandt  hung.  He  paused  before  the  jMcture  in  a 
hesitating,  fascinated  way.  His  feet  seemed  to  pull  up 
before  it  involuntarily. 

"  Wliat  does  it  mean  ?  "  he  muttered.  "  WTiat  in  the 
name  of  fate  has  happened  ?  It  is  impossible  that 
Merritt  could  have  played  me  a  trick  like  that ;  he 
would  never  have  dared.  Besides,  he  has  too  much  to 
gain  by  following  my  instructions.     I  fancy " 

Henson  slipped  up  to  the  picture  as  a  sudden  idea 
came  to  him.  If  the  picture  had  not  been  removed  at 
all  ib«  stays  would  still  be  intact.     And  ii  they  were 


CHRIS  HAS   AN   IDEA.  223 

Intact  Mcrritt  was  likely  to  have  a  bad  quarter  of  an 
hour  later  on.     It  would  be  proof  that 

But  the  stays  were  not  intact.  The  heads  had  been 
shaved  off  with  some  cutting  instrument ;  the  half  of 
the  stays  gleamed  like  silver  in  the  morning  light.  And 
yet  the  Rembrandt  was  there.  The  more  Henson  dwelt 
upon  it  the  more  he  was  puzzled.  He  began  to  wonder 
whether  some  deep  trap  was  being  laid  for  him. 

But,  no,  he  had  seen  no  signs  of  it.  In  some  way  or 
another  Bell  had  managed  to  ingratiate  himself  with 
Littimer  again,  but  not  necessarily  for  long,  Henson 
told  himself,  with  a  vicious  grin.  Nor  was  Littimer  the 
kind  of  man  who  ever  troubled  himself  to  restrain  his 
feelings.  If  he  had  got  to  the  bottom  of  the  whole 
business  he  would  have  had  Henson  kicked  out  of  the 
house  without  delay. 

But  Littimer  suspected  nothing.  His  greeting  just 
now  showed  that  Bell  suspected  nothing,  because  he 
had  shaken  hands  in  the  heartiest  manner  possible. 
And  as  for  Miss  Lee,  she  was  no  more  than  a  smart 
Yankee  girl,  and  absolutely  an  outsider. 

Still,  it  was  dreadfully  puzzling.  And  it  was  not  nice 
to  be  puzzled  at  a  time  when  the  arch-conspirator  ought 
to  know  every  move  of  the  game.  Therefore  it  became 
necessary  to  go  into  Moreton  Wells  and  see  Merritt 
without  delay.  As  Henson  crossed  the  hall  the  cheerful 
voice  of  Littimer  hailed  him. 

"  Reginald,"  he  cried,  "  I  want  your  assistance  and 
advice." 

With  a  muttered  curse  Henson  entered  the  library. 
Littimer  was  seated  at  a  table,  with  a  cigarette  in  his 
mouth,  his  brows  drawn  over  a  mass  of  papers. 

"  Sit  down  and  have  a  cigar,"  he  said.  "  The  fact 
h  I  am  setting  my  affairs  in  order — I  am  going  to  make 
a  fresh  will.  If  you  harln't  come  down  last  night  I 
should  probably  have  sent  for  you.  Now  take  my 
bank-book  and  check  tiiosc  figures." 

"  Shall  we  be  long  ?  "  Henson  asked,  anxiously. 

Littimer  tartly  hoped  that  Henson  could  spare  him 
an  hour.  It  was  not  usual,  he  said,  for  a  testator  to 
be  refused  assistance  from  the  chief  benefactor  under 


324  THE  CRIMSON   BLIND. 

his  will-  Henson  apologized,  with  a  sickly  smile.  Ha 
had  important  business  of  a  philanthropic  kind  in  More* 
ton  Weils,  but  he  had  no  doubt  that  it  could  waut  fof 
an  hour.  And  then  for  the  best  part  of  the  morning 
he  sat  fuming  politely,  whilst  Littimer  chattered  in  the 
rrvDst  amiable  fashion.  Henson  had  rarely  seen  him  in 
a  better  mood.  It  was  quite  obvious  that  he  suspected 
nothing.  Meanwhile  Chris  and  Bell  were  bowHng  along 
towards  Moreton  Wells.  They  sat  well  back  in  the 
roomy  waggonette,  so  that  the  servants  could  not  hear 
them-  Chris  regarded  Bell  with  a  brilliant  smile  on  her 
face. 

"  Confess,"  she  said,  "  confess  that  you  are  consumed 
with  curiosity." 

"  It  would  be  just  as  well  to  acknowledge  it  at  once." 
Bell  admitted.  "  In  the  happy  old  days  your  sister 
Enid  always  said  that  you  were  the  clever  and  audacious 
one  of  the  family.  She  said  you  would  do  or  dare  any- 
thing." 

"  I  used  to  imagine  so,"  Chris  said,  more  quietly. 
"  But  the  life  of  the  last  few  years  tried  one's  nerves 
terribly.  Still,  the  change  has  done  me  a  deal  of  good 
— the  change  and  the  knowledge  that  Reginald  Henson 
regards  me  as  dead.  But  you  want  to  know  how  I  am 
going  to  get  the  Rembrandt  ?  " 

"  That  is  what  is  consuming  me  at  present,"  Bell 
said. 

"  Well,  we  are  going  to  see  the  man  who  has  it,"  Chris 
explained,  coolly.  "  I  have  his  address  in  Moreton  Wells 
at  the  present  moment,  and  for  the  rest  he  is  called  the 
Rev.  James  Merritt.  Between  ourselves  he  is  no  more 
a  reverend  than  you  are." 

"  And  if  the  gentleman  is  shy  or  refuses  to  see  us  }  " 

"  Then  he  will  be  arrested  on  a  charge  of  theft." 

"  My  dear  young  lady,  before  you  can  get  a  warrant 
for  that  kind  of  thing  you  have  to  prove  the  theft,  you 
have  to  swear  an  information  to  the  effect  that  you 
believe  the  property  is  in  the  possession  of  the  thief, 
and  that  is  not  easy." 

"  There  is  nothing  easier.  I  am  prepared  to  swear 
that  cheerfully." 


CHRIS  HAS  AN   IDEA.  125 

•*  That  you  actually  know  that  the  property  is  in  the 
possession  of  the  thief  ?  " 

"  Certainly  I  do.     I  saw  him  put  it  in  his  pocket." 

Bell  looked  at  the  speaker  with  blank  surprise.  If 
such  was  the  fact,  then  Chris's  present  statement  was 
exactly  opposed  to  all  that  she  had  said  before.  She  sat 
opposite  to  Bell,  with  a  little  gleam  of  mischief  in  her 
lovely  eyes. 

"  You  saw  that  man  steal  the  Rembrandt  ?  "  Bell 
gasped. 

"  Certainly  not.  But  I  did  see  him  steal  my  big 
diamond  star  and  put  it  in  his  pocket.  And  I  can  swear 
an  information  on  that." 

"  I  see  that  you  have  somethmg  interesting  to  tell 
me,"  Bell  said. 

"  Oh,  indeed,  I  have.  We  will  hark  back  now  to  the 
night  before  last,  when  Reginald  Henson  made  his  per- 
sonal attempt  to  obtain  the  Rembrandt  and  then  played 
the  trick  upon  you  that  was  so  very  near  to  being  a 
brilliant  success." 

"  It  would  have  been  but  for  you,"  Bell  murmured. 

"  Well,  really,  I  am  inclined  to  think  so.  And  per- 
haps Lord  Littimer  would  have  given  you  in  custody 
on  a  second  chage  of  theft.  If  he  had  done  so  it  would 
have  gone  hard  with  you  to  prove  your  innocence.  But 
I  am  wandenng  from  the  point.  Henson  failed.  But 
he  was  going  to  try  again.  I  watched  him  carefully 
yesterday  and  managed  to  see  his  letters  and  telegrams. 
Then  I  found  that  he  had  telegraphed  to  James  Merritt, 
whose  address  in  Morcton  Wells  I  carefully  noted  down. 
It  did  not  require  much  intellect  to  grasp  the  fact  that 
this  Merritt  was  to  be  the  accomplice  in  the  new  effort 
to  steal  the  picture.  Mr.  Merritt  came  over  and  saw 
his  chief,  with  whom  he  had  a  long  conversation  in 
the  grounds.  I  also  forced  myself  on  Mr.  Merritt's 
notice. 

"  He  was  introduced  to  me  as  a  brand  plucked  from 
the  burning,  a  converted  thiet  who  had  taken  orders  of 
tome  kind.  He  is  a  sorry-looking  scoundrel,  and  I  took 
partiailar  note  of  him,  especially  the  horrible  smashed 
thumb." 


226  THE  CRIMSON   BLIND. 

"  The  what !  "  Bell  exclaimed.  "  A  thumb  like  • 
snake's  head  with  a  little  pink  nail  on  it  ?  " 

"jThe  same  man.  So  you  happen  to  have  met  him  ?  ** 
'  We  met  on  our  way  here,"  Bell  said,  drily.  "  The 
rascal  sent  the  dogcart  away  from  the  station  so  that 
I  should  have  to  walk  home,  and  he  attacked  me  in  the 
road.  But  I  half-expected  something  of  the  kind,  and 
I  was  ready  for  him.  And  he  was  the  man  with  the 
thumb.  I  should  have  told  you  all  this  before,  but  I 
had  forgotten  it  in  watching  your  fascinating  diplomacy. 
When  the  attack  was  defeated  the  rascal  bolted  in  the 
direction  of  the  cliffs.  Of  course,  he  was  off  to  tell 
Henson  of  the  failure  of  the  scheme  and  to  go  on  with 
the  plot  for  getting  the  other  picture.  If  he  had  stolen 
my  Rembrandt  then  the  other  would  have  remained. 
I  couldn't  have  turned  up  with  a  cock-and-bull  story 
of  having  started  with  the  picture  and  being  robbed  of 
it  by  a  total  stranger  in  the  road  ....  But  I  am 
interrupting  you." 

"  Well,  I  marked  that  thumb  carefully.  I  have  al- 
ready told  you  that  the  thief  passed  me  on  his  way  to 
the  house  when  he  came  up  the  cliff.  I  was  leaning 
over  the  terrace  when  I  saw  him  emerge  into  a  band 
of  light  caused  by  the  big  arc  in  the  castle  tower.  I 
forgot  that  I  was  in  deep  shadow  and  that  he  could 
not  possibly  see  me.  I  jerked  my  head  back  suddenly, 
and  my  diamond  star  fell  out  and  dropped  almost  at 
the  feet  of  the  intruder.  Then  he  saw  it,  chuckled  over 
it — placed  it  in  his  pocket.  I  was  going  to  call  out, 
but  I  didn't.  I  had  a  sudden  idea.  Dr.  Bell — I  had  an 
idea  that  almost  amounted  to  an  inspiration." 

Chris  paused  for  a  moment  and  her  eyes  sparkled. 
Bell  was  watching  her  with  the  deepest  interest  and 
admiration." 

"  I  let  the  man  keep  it,"  Chris  went  on,  more  slowly, 
"  with  an  eye  to  the  future.  The  man  had  stolen  the 
thing  and  I  was  in  a  position  to  prove  it.  He  would 
be  pretty  sure  to  pawn  the  star — he  probably  has  done 
so  by  this  time,  and  therefore  we  have  him  in  our  power. 
We  have  only  to  discover  where  the  diamonds  have  been 
'  planted  * — is  that  the  correct  expression  ? — I  can  swear 


CHRIS  HAS  AN  IDEA.  la; 

ao  information,  and  the  police  will  subsequently  search 
the  fellow's  lodgings.  Wlien  the  search  is  made  the 
missing  Rembrandt  will  be  found  there.  Mr.  Merritt 
would  hardly  dare  to  pawn  that." 

"  Even  if  he  knew  its  real  value,  which  I  doubt,"  Bell 
said,  thoughtfully.  "  Henson  would  not  tell  his  tool 
too  much.  Let  me  congratulate  you  upon  your  idea, 
Miss  Chris.  That  diamond  star  of  yours  is  a  powerful 
factor  in  our  hands,  and  you  always  have  the  conscious- 
ness of  knowing  that  you  can  get  it  back  again.  Now, 
what  are  we  going  to  do  next  ?  " 

"  Going  to  call  upon  Mr.  Merritt,  of  course,"  Chris 
said,  promptly.  "  You  forget  that  I  have  his  address. 
I  am  deeply  interested  in  the  welfare  of  the  criminal 
classes,  and  you  are  also  an  enthusiast.  I've  looked  up 
the  names  of  one  or  two  people  in  the  directory  who  go 
in  for  that  kind  of  thing,  and  I'm  going  to  get  up  a 
bazaar  at  Littimer  Castle  for  the  benefit  of  the  predatory 
classes  who  have  turned  over  a  new  leaf.  I  am  par- 
ticularly anxious  for  Mr.  Merritt  to  give  us  an  address. 
Don't  you  think  that  will  do  ?  " 

"  I  should  think  it  would  do  very  well  indeed,"  Bell 
said. 

The  quaint  and  somewhat  exclusive  town  of  Moreton 
Wells  was  reached  in  due  course  and  the  street  where 
the  Rev.  James  Merritt  resided  located  at  length.  It 
was  a  modest  two-storeyed  tenement,  and  the  occupier 
of  the  rooms  was  at  home.  Chris  pushed  her  way  gaily 
in,  followed  by  Bell,  before  the  occupant  could  lay  down 
the  foul  clay  pipe  he  was  smoking  and  button  the  un- 
accustomed stiff  white  collar  round  his  throat.  Merritt 
whipped  a  tumbler  under  the  table  with  amazing  celerity, 
but  nc  cunning  of  his  could  remove  the  smell  of  gin  that 
bung  pungently  on  the  murky  atmosphere. 

Merritt  dodged  his  head  back  defiantly  as  if  half 
expecting  a  blow.  His  eyes  were  strained  a  little 
anxiously  over  Bell's  shoulder  as  if  fearful  of  a  shadow. 
Bell  had  seen  the  type  before — Merritt  was  uncon- 
sciously lookinr^  for  the  police. 

"  I  am  so  glad  to  find  you  at  home,"  Chris  said, 
twcetly. 


228  THE  CRIMSON  BLIND. 

Merritt  muttered  something  that  hardly  soundej 
complimentary.  It  was  quite  evident  tliat  he  was  far 
from  returning  the  com})liment.  He  had  recogiiif-ed 
Bell,  and  was  wondering  fearfully  if  the  latter  was  as 
sure  of  his  identity.  Bell's  face  bctra3'cd  notliing.  All 
the  same  he  was  following  Merritt's  uneasy  eye  till  it 
rested  on  a  roll  of  dirty  paper  on  the  mantelshelf.  That 
roll  of  paper  was  the  missing  Rembrandt,  and  he  knew  it. 

"  Won't  you  offer  me  a  chair  ?  "  Chris  asked,  in  the 
sweetest  possible  manner. 

Merritt  sulkily  emptied  a  chair  of  a  pile  of  cheap 
sporting  papers,  and  demanded  none  too  politely  what 
business  the  lady  had  with  him.  Chris  proceeded  to 
explain  at  considerable  length.  As  Merritt  listened  his 
eyes  gleamed  and  a  broadening  grin  spread  over  his  face. 
He  had  done  a  great  deal  of  that  kind  of  thing,  he  ad- 
mitted. Since  Henson  had  taken  him  up  the  police  had 
not  been  anything  like  so  inquisitive,  and  his  present 
pose  was  fruitful  of  large  predatory  gains.  The  latter 
fact  Merritt  kept  to  himself.  On  the  whole  the  prospect 
appealed  to  his  imagination.  Henson  wouldn't  hke  it, 
but,  then,  Henson  was  not  in  a  position  to  say  too  much. 

"  I  thought  perhaps  if  you  came  over  with  us  and 
dined  at  the  castle,"  Chris  suggested.  She  spoke  slowly 
and  thoughtfully,  with  her  eyes  on  the  ground.  "  Say 
to-night.     Will  you  come  ?  " 

Merritt  grinned  extensively  once  more.  The  idea  of 
his  dining  at  the  castle  appealed  to  his  own  peculiar 
sense  of  humour.  He  was  at  his  ease,  seeing  that  Bell 
failed  to  recognise  him.  To  dine  at  the  castle,  to  note 
the  plate,  and  get  a  minute  geographical  knowledge  of 
the  place  from  personal  observation  1  .  .  .  His  mouth 
watered  at  the  thought. 

"  They  ought  to  be  more  careful  yonder,"  he  suggested- 
"  There's  plate  and  there's  pictures." 

"  Nothing  has  ever  been  stolen  from  Littimer  Castle," 
Bell  said,  crisply.  He  read  the  leer  in  Merritt's  eyes  as 
he  spoke  of  pictures.     "  Nothing  whatever." 

"  What,  not  lately  ?  "  Merritt  asked.  "  Didn't  I  hear 
tell  of  a " 

He  paused,  conscious  of  saying  too  much.     Bell  shook 


CHRIS  HAS  AN  IDEA.  329 

his  head  again.  An  utterly  puzzled  expression  crept 
over  Mr.  Merritt's  engaging  countenance.  At  the 
present  moment  an  art  treasure  of  price  stood  in  that 
very  room,  and  here  was  a  party  from  the  castle  utterly 
innocent  of  the  robbery.    Chris  glanced  at  Bell  and  smiled. 

"  I  love  the  pictures,"  she  said,  "  especially  the  prints. 
That  Rembrandt,  '  The  Crimson  Blind,'  for  instanco. 
I  found  a  fresh  light  in  it  this  morning  and  called  Lord 
Littimer's  attention  to  it  before  we  started.  I  should 
lock  that  up  if  it  were  mine." 

Merritt's  eyes  fairly  bulged  as  he  listened.  Had  he 
not  half -suspected  some  deep  "  plant "  he  would  have 
been  vastly  amused.  But  then  he  had  got  the  very 
picture  these  people  were  speaking  about  close  to  hand 
at  the  very  moment. 

"  Tell  you  what,"  he  said,  suddenly.  "  I  ain't  used 
to  swell  society  ways,  but  I'm  always  ready  to  sacrifice 
myself  to  the  poor  fellows  who  ain't  found  the  straight 
path  like  me.  And  if  you  gets  up  your  bazaar,  I'll  do 
what  I  can  to  'elp." 

"  Then  you  will  dine  with  us  to-night  ?  "  Chris  asked, 
eagerly.  "  Don't  say  no.  I  met  a  man  once  with  a 
past  like  yours  at  Lady  Roslingham's,  and  he  was  so 
interesting.  We  will  call  for  you  in  an  hour's  time  with 
the  waggonette.  Then  we  can  settle  half  our  plans 
before  dinner." 

Merritt  was  graciously  pleased  to  be  agreeable.  More- 
over, he  was  utterly  puzzled  and  absolutely  consumed 
with  an  overpowering  curiosity.  It  seemed  also  to 
him  to  be  a  sheer  waste  of  providence  to  discard  such 
an  offer.     And  the  plate  at  Littimcr  Castle  was  superb  ! 

Meanwhile  Chris  and  Bell  walked  down  the  street 
together.  "  He  was  puzzled  over  the  Rembrandt," 
Chris  said.     "  Seeing  that  he  has  our  picture " 

"  No  doubt  about  it.  The  picture  was  rolled  up  and 
stood  on  the  mantelshelf.  I  followed  Merritt's  gaze, 
knowing  perfectly  well  that  it  would  rest  presently  on 
the  picture  if  it  was  in  the  room.  At  the  same  time, 
our  mteresting  friend,  in  chuckling  over  the  way  he  has 
deceived  us,  clean  forgot  the  yellow  pawnticket  lying  oa 
the  table." 


230  THE  CRIMSON   BLIND. 

"  Dr.  Bell,  do  you  mean  to  say  that- 


That  I  know  where  your  diamond  star  was  pled|?e<L 
Indeed  I  do.  Merritt  had  probably  just  turned  out  his 
pockets  as  we  entered.  The  pawnticket  was  du  the 
table  and  related  to  a  diamond  aigrette  pawned  by  one 
James  Merritt  — mark  the  simple  cunning  of  the  man — 
with  Messrs.  Rutter  and  Co.,  117,  High  Street.  That  in 
itself  is  an  exceedingly  valuable  discovery,  and  one  w« 
can  afford  to  keep  to  ourselves  for  the  present.  At  he 
same  time  I  should  very  much  like  to  know  what  Rutter 
and  Co.  are  like.  Let  me  go  down  to  the  shop  and  make 
some  simple  purchase." 

Rutter  and  Co.  proved  to  be  a  very  high-class  shop 
indeed,  despite  the  fact  that  there  was  a  pawnbroking 
branch  of  the  business.  The  place  was  quite  worthy  of 
Bond  Street,  the  stock  was  brilliant  and  substantial,  the 
assistants  quite  above  provincial  class.  As  Bell  was 
turning  over  some  sleeve-links,  Chris  was  examining  a 
case  of  silver  and  gold  cigarette-cases  and  the  like.  She 
picked  up  a  cigar-case  at  length  and  asked  the  price. 
At  the  mention  of  fifty  guineas  she  dropped  the  trifle 
with  a  little  moue  of  surprise. 

"  It  looks  as  if  it  had  been  used,"  she  said. 

"  It  is  not  absolutely  new,  madam,"  the  assistant 
admitted,  "  therefore  the  price  is  low.  But  the  gentle- 
man who  sold  it  to  us  proved  that  he  had  only  had  it  for 
a  few  days.  The  doctor  had  ordered  him  not  to  smoke 
in  future,  and  so " 

Chris  turned  away  to  something  else.  Bell  completed 
his  purchase,  and  together  they  left  the  shop.  Once  out- 
side Chris  gripped  her  companion's  arm  excitedly. 

"  Another  great  discovery,"  she  said.  "  Did  you  see 
me  looking  at  that  cigar-case — a  gun-metal  one  set  with 
diamonds  ?  You  recollect  that  Ruth  Gates  purchased  a 
case  like  that  for  that — that  foolishness  we  thought  of 
in  connection  with  Mr.  Steel.  The  case  had  a  little 
arrow  shaped  scratch  with  the  head  of  the  arrow  formed 
of  the  biggest  diamond.  Enid  told  me  all  this  the  night 
before  I  .eft  Longdean  Grange.  Dr.  Bell,  I  am  absolutely 
certain  that  I  have  had  in  my  hand  just  now  the  very 
case  bought  by  Ruth  from  Lockhart's  in  Brighton  I  " 


CHAPTER    XXXVL 

A   BRILLIANT   IDEA. 

Bell  was  considerably  impressed  with  the  importance 
of  Chris's  discovery,  though  at  the  same  time  he  was  not 
disposed  to  regard  it  in  the  hght  of  a  coincidence. 

"  It's  a  useful  discovery  in  its  way,"  he  said  ;  "  but 
not  very  remarkable  when  you  come  to  think  of  it. 
Somebody  with  an  eye  to  damaging  Steel  changed  that 
cigar-case.  How  the  change  affected  Steel  you  know 
as  well  as  I  do.  But  the  cigar-case  purchased  by  Ruth 
Gates  must  be  somewhere,  and  we  are  as  likely  to  find  it 
near  Reginald  Henson  as  anywhere  else,  seeing  that  he 
is  at  the  bottom  of  the  whole  business.  That  change 
was  made  either  by  himself  or  by  somebody  at  his  in- 
stigation. Once  the  change  was  made  he  would  not 
bother  about  the  spare  cigar-case.  His  ally  probably 
came  here  to  see  Henson  ;  the  latter  as  likely  as  not 
threw  him  over,  knowing  that  the  fellow  would  not  dare 
to  talk  ;  hence  the  thing  is  turned  into  money.  I  am 
merely  speculating,  of  course,  under  the  assumption  that 
you  are  quite  sure  of  your  facts." 

"  Absolutely,"  Chris  cried,  eagerly.  "  Two  long, 
irregular  scratches  leading  up  in  arrow-headed  sha|>e  to 
the  big  diamond  in  the  centre.  Ruth  told  Enid  all 
about  that  the  very  last  time  they  discussed  the  matter 
together." 

"  How  came  Ruth  Gates  to  remember  it  so  clearly  ?  " 

"  Well,  she  did  it  herself.  She  was  rubbing  some 
•pecks  off  the  case  at  the  last  moment,  and  the  scratches 

331 


233  THE   CRIMSON    BLIND 

were  made  accidentally  with  the  stones  in  one  of  her 
rings." 

Bell  was  fain  to  admit  that  the  discovery  was  an 
important  one.  "  We'll  leave  it  for  the  present,"  he 
said.  "  In  a  small  place  like  this  so  valuable  an  article 
is  likely  to  remain  in  stock  for  some  time.  I'll  call  in 
again  to-morrow  on  the  pretence  of  getting  further  goods 
and  obtain  all  the  information  there  is  to  be  gained  as  tD 
who  sold  the  case  and  what  he  was  like.  There  is  just 
time  for  a  little  lunch  before  we  take  up  our  reverend 
friend.     Wlicrc  shall  we  go  ?  " 

Chris  would  like  to  see  the  Lion.  There  was  a  mar- 
vellous coffee-room  there  with  panelled  walls  and  a 
ceiling  by  Pugin,  and  an  fngle-nook  filled  with  rare 
Dutch  tiles.  They  had  the  beautiful  old  place  to  them- 
selves, so  that  they  could  talk  freely.  Chris  crumbled 
her  bread  and  sipped  her  soup  with  an  air  of  deep 
abstraction. 

"  A  great  idea  is  forming  itself  in  my  mind,"  she  said. 

"  What,  another  one  ? "  Bell  smiled.  "Is  it  the 
air  of  the  place  or  what  ?  ReaUy,  there  is  a  brilliancy 
about  you  that  is  striking." 

Chris  laughed.     She  was  full  of  the  joy  of  life  to-day. 

"  It  is  the  freedom,"  she  said.  "  If  you  only  knew 
what  it  is  to  feel  free  after  the  dull,  aching,  monotonous 
misery  of  the  last  few  years.  To  be  constantly  on  the 
treadmill,  to  be  in  the  grasp  of  a  pitiless  scoundrel.  At 
first  you  fight  against  it  passionately,  with  a  longing  to 
be  doing  something,  and  gradually  you  give  way  to 
despair.  And  now  the  weight  is  off  my  shoulders,  and 
I  am  free  to  act.  Fancy  the  reward  of  finding  Reginald 
Henson  out  !  " 

"  Reginald  Henson  is  the  blight  upon  your  house. 
In  what  way  ?  " 

"  Ah,  I  cannot  tell  you.  It  is  a  secret  that  we  never 
discuss  even  among  ourselves.  But  he  has  the  power 
over  us,  he  has  blighted  all  our  lives.  But  if  I  could  get 
hold  of  a  certain  thing  the  power  would  be  broken. 
That  is  what  I  am  after,  wiiat  I  am  working  for.  And 
it  is  in  connection  with  my  endeavour  that  the  new  idea 
came  to  me." 


A   BRILLIANT   IDEA.  233 

"  Can't  you  give  me  some  general  idea  of  it  ?  "  Bell 
asked. 

"  Well,  I  want  to  make  Merritt  my  friend.  I  want 
hin.  to  imagine  that  I  am  as  much  of  an  adventuress  as 
he  is  an  adventurer.  I  want  to  let  liim  see  that  I  could 
send  him  to  prison " 

"  So  you  can  by  telling  the  police  of  the  loss  of  your 
star." 

"  And  getting  Merritt  arrested  and  sent  to  gaol  where 
I  couldn't  make  use  of  him  ?  No,  no.  The  thing  is 
pretty  vague  in  my  mind  at  present.  I  have  to  work  it 
out  as  one  would  a  story  ;  as  David  Steel  would  work 
it  out,  for  instance.     Ah  !  " 

Chris  clapped  her  hands  rapturously,  and  a  little  cry 
of  delight  escaped  her. 

"  The  very  thing,"  she  exclaimed.  "  If  I  could  lay 
all  the  facts  before  Mr.  Steel  and  get  him  to  plan  out 
all  the  details  !  His  fertile  imagination  would  see  a 
way  out  at  once.  But  he  is  far  away  and  there 
is  no  time  to  be  lost.  Is  there  no  way  of  getting 
at  him  ?  " 

Chris  appealed  almost  imploringly  to  her  companion. 
She  made  a  pretty  picture  with  the  old  oak  engravings 
behind  her.  Bell  smiled  as  he  helped  himself  to  as- 
paragus. 

"  Why  not  adopt  the  same  method  by  which  you 
originally  introduced  yourself  to  the  distinguished 
novelist  ? "  he  asked.  "  VVliy  not  use  Littimer's 
telephone  ?  " 

Chris  pushed  her  plate  away  impetuously. 

"  I  am  too  excited  to  eat  any  more,"  she  said.  "  I 
am  filled  with  the  new  idea.  Of  course,  I  could  use 
the  telephone  to  speak  to  Mr.  Ste?l,  md  to  Enid  as  well. 
If  the  scheme  works  out  as  I  anticipate,  I  shall  have  to 
hold  a  long  conversation  with  Enid,  a  dangerous  thing 
so  long  as  Reginald  Henson  is  about." 

"  I'll  keep  Henson  out  of  the  way.  The  best  thiag 
is  to  wait  till  everybody  has  gone  to  bed  to-night  and 
call  Steel  up  tlien.  You  will  be  certain  to  get  him  after 
eleven,  and  tliere  will  be  no  chance  of  your  being  cut 
off  at  that  hour  of  the  night  in  consequence  of  somebody 


334  THE  CRIMSON   BLIND. 

else   wanting   the   line.     The   same   remark   appUes  to 

your  sisler." 

Chris  nodded  radiantly. 

"  Thrice  blessed  telephone,"  she  said.  "  I  can  get  in 
all  I  want  without  committing  myself  to  paper  or  moving 
from  the  spot  where  my  presence  is  urgently  needed. 
We  will  give  Mr.  Steel  a  pleasant  suri^rise  to-night,  and 
this  time  I  shiUl  get  him  into  no  trouble." 

The  luncheon  was  finished  at  length,  and  an  intimation 
sent  to  Merritt  that  his  friends  were  waiting  for  him  at 
the  Lion.  As  his  jiowcrful  figure  was  seen  entering  (he 
big  Norman  porch  llenson  came  down  the  street  driving 
a  dog-cart  at  a  dangerous  rate  of  speed. 

"  Our  man  is  going  to  have  his  trouble  for  his  pains," 
Bell  chuckled.  "  He  has  come  to  interview  Menitt. 
How  pleased  he  will  be  to  see  Merritt  at  dinner-time." 

Merritt  shaml)lcd  in  awkwardly,  obviously  suppressing 
a  desire  to  touch  his  forelock.  There  was  a  shcepi^n 
grin  on  his  face,  a  suppressed  triumph  in  his  eyes.  He 
had  been  recently  shaved  and  his  hair  cut,  but  despite 
these  improvements,  and  despite  his  clerical  garb,  he 
was  not  exactly  the  class  of  man  to  meet  in  a  dark  lane 
after  sunset. 

Chris,  however,  showed  nothing  of  this  in  her  greeting. 
Long  before  Litlimer  Castle  was  reached  she  had  suc- 
ceeded in  putting  Merritt  quite  at  his  ease.  He  talked 
of  himself  and  his  past  exploits,  he  boasted  of  his  cunning. 
It  was  only  now  and  again  that  he  pulled  himself  up  and 
piotisly  referred  to  the  new  life  that  he  was  now  loading. 
Bell  was  studying  him  carefully  ;  he  read  the  other's 
mind  like  an  open  book.  When  the  waggonette  finally 
jiulled  up  before  the  castle  Lit  timer  strolled  up  and  stood 
there  regarding  Merritt  quietly. 

"  So  this  is  the  gentleman  you  were  going  to  bring 
to  dinner  ?  "  he  said,  grimly.  "  I  have  seen  him  before 
in  the  company  of  our  dear  Reginald.     I  also " 

Chris  shot  Littimer  an  imi)loring  glance.  Merritt 
grinned  in  friendly  fashion.  13ell,  in  his  tactful  way, 
piloted  the  strange  guest  to  the  library  before  Littimer 
and  Chris  had  reached  the  hall.  The  former  polished 
his  eyeglass  and  regarded  Chris  critically. 


A   BRILLIANT   IDEA.  235 

*'  My  dear  young  lady,"  he  said  smoothly,  "  originality 
is  a  passion  with  me,  eccentricity  draws  rae  as  a  magnet ; 
but  as  yet  I  have  refrained  from  sitting  down  to  table 
with  ticket-of-leave  men.  Your  friend  has  '  convict ' 
writ  large  upon  his  face." 

"  He  has  been  in  gaol,  of  course,"  Chris  admitted, 
cheerfully. 

"  Then  let  me  prophesy,  and  declare  that  he  will  be 
in  gaol  again.     Why  bring  him  here  ?  " 

"  Because  it  is  absolutely  necessary,"  Chris  said, 
boldly.  "  That  man  can  help  me — help  us.  Lord 
Littimer.  I  am  not  altogether  what  I  seem.  There  is  a 
scoundrel  in  your  house  compared  with  whom  James 
Merritt  is  an  innocent  child.  That  scoundrel  has 
blighted  your  life  and  the  lives  of  your  family  ;  he  has 
blighted  my  life  for  years.  And  I  am  here  to  expose 
him,  and  I  am  here  to  right  the  wrong  and  bring  back 
the  lost  happiness  of  us  all.  I  cannot  say  more,  but  I 
implore  you  to  let  me  have  my  own  way  in  this  matter." 

"  Oh !  "  Littimer  said,  darkly,  "  so  you  are  mas- 
querading here  ?  " 

"  I  am.  I  admit  it.  Turn  me  out  if  you  like  ;  refuse 
to  be  a  party  to  my  scheme.  You  may  think  badly  of 
me  now,  probably  you  will  think  worse  of  me  later  on. 
But  I  swear  to  you  that  I  am  acting  with  the  best  and 
purest  motives,  and  in  your  interest  as  much  as  my  own." 

"  Then  you  are  not  entitled  even  to  the  name  you 
bear  ?  " 

"  No,  I  admit  it  freely.  Consider,  I  need  not  have 
told  you  anything.  Things  cannot  be  any  worse  than 
they  are.  Let  me  try  and  make  them  better.  Will 
you,  will  you  irusi  me  ?  " 

Chris's  voice  quivered,  there  were  tears  in  her  eyes. 
With  a  sudden  impulse  Littimer  laid  his  hands  upon 
her  shoulders  and  looked  long  and  searchingly  into 
her  eyes. 

"  Very  well,"  he  said,  with  a  gentle  sigh.  "  I  will 
trust  you.  As  a  matter  of  fact,  I  have  felt  that  I  could 
trust  you  from  the  Ikst.  I  won't  pry  into  your  schemes, 
because  if  thoy  are  successful  I  shall  benefit  by  them. 
And  if  you  like  to  bring  a  cariloud  of  convicts  down  here, 


236  THE   CRIMSON    BLIND. 

pray  do  so.  It  will  only  puzzle  tlio  nei^^hbours,  and 
drive  them  mad  with  curiosity,  and  I  love  that." 

"  And  you'll  back  me  up  in  all  I  say  and  do  ?  "  Chris 
asked. 

"  Certainly  I  will.  On  the  whole,  I  fancy  I  am  going 
to  have  a  pleasant  evening.  I  don't  think  dear  Reginald 
will  be  pleased  to  see  his  friend  at  dinner.  If  any  of  the 
spoons  are  missing  I  shall  hold  you  responsible." 

Chris  went  off  to  her  room  well  pleased  with  the  turn 
of  events.  Brilliant  audacity  had  succeeded  where  timid 
pohcy  might  have  resulted  in  dismal  failure.  And 
Littimer  had  refrained  from  asking  any  awkward  ques- 
tions. From  the  window  she  could  see  Bell  and  Merritt 
walking  up  and  down  the  terrace,  the  latter  talking 
volubly  and  worrying  at  a  big  cigar  as  a  dog  might 
nuzzle  at  a  bone.  Chris  saw  Littimer  join  the  other 
two  presently  and  fall  in  with  their  conversation.  His 
laugh  came  to  the  girl's  ear  more  than  once.  It  was 
quite  evident  that  the  eccentric  nobleman  was  enjoying 
the  ex-convict's  society.  But  Littimer  had  never  been 
fettered  by  conventional  rules. 

The  dog-cart  came  up  presently  and  Henson  got  out. 
He  had  an  anxious,  worried  look  ;  there  was  an  ugly 
frown  between  his  brows.  He  contrived  to  be  polite  as 
Chris  emerged.     He  wanted  to  know  where  Littimer  was. 

"  On  the  terrace,  I  fancy,"  Chris  said,  denmrely. 
"  I  guess  he  is  having  a  long  chat  with  that  parson  friend 
of  yours — the  brand  plucked  from  the  burning,  you 
know." 

"  Merritt,"  Henson  said,  hoarsely.  "  Do  you  mean 
to  say  that  Merritt  is  here  ?  And  I've  been  looking  for — 
1  mean,  I  have  been  into  More  ton  Wells.  Why  did  he 
come  ?  " 

Chris  opened  her  eyes  in  innocent  surprise. 

"  Why,"  she  said,  "  I  fetched  him.  I'm  deeply 
interested  in  brands  of  that  kind." 


CHAPTER    XXXVTI. 

ANOTHER   TELEPHONIC   MESSAGE. 

Henson  forced  a  smile  to  his  face  and  a  hand  from  his 
side  as  he  approached  Merritt  and  the  rest.  It  was  not 
until  the  two  found  themselves  alone  that  the  mask 
was  dropped. 

"  You  infernally  insolent  scoundrel,"  Henson  said, 
between  his  teeth.  "  How  dare  you  come  here  ?  You've 
done  your  work  for  the  present,  and  the  sooner  you  go 
back  to  your  kennel  in  London  the  better.  If  I  imagined 
that  you  meant  any  harm  I'd  crush  3'ou  altogether." 

"  I  didn't  come  on  my  own,"  Merritt  whined.  "  So 
keep  your  'air  on.  That  young  lady  came  and  fetched 
me — regular  gone  on  me,  she  is.  And  there's  to  be  high 
jinks  'ere — a  bazaar  for  the  benefit  of  pore  criminals  as 
can't  get  no  work  to  do.  You  'card  what  his  lordship 
said.  And  I'm  goin'  to  make  a  speech,  like  as  I  used  to 
gull  the  chaplains.     Lor',  it's  funny^  ain't  it  ?  " 

Henson  failed  to  see  the  humour  of  the  situation.  He 
was  uneasy  and  suspicious.  Moreover,  he  was  puzzled 
by  this  American  girl,  and  he  hated  to  be  puzzled.  She 
had  social  aspirations,  of  course  ;  she  cared  nothing  for 
decayed  or  reformed  criminals,  and  this  silly  bazaar  v.as 
only  designed  so  that  the  ambitious  girl  could  find  her 
way  into  the  county  set.  Tlien  she  would  choose  a 
husband,  and  nothing  more  would  be  heard  of  Merritt 
and  Co.  Henson  had  a  vague  noticju  that  all  American 
girls  are  on  the  look-out  for  English  husbands  of  the 
titled  order. 

«J7 


238  THE  CRIMSON  BLIND- 

"  Littimer  must  be  mad,"  he  muttered.  '  I  can't 
understand  Littimer ;  I  can't  understand  anything. 
Which  reminds  me  that  I  have  a  crow  to  pluck  with  you. 
Why  didn't  you  do  as  I  told  yuu  last  night  ?  " 

"  Did,"  said  Merritt,  curtly.  "  Got  the  picture  and 
took  it  home  with  me." 

"  You  liar !  The  picture  is  in  the  corridor  at  the 
present  time." 

"  Liar  yourself  I  I've  got  the  picture  on  my  mantel- 
shelf in  my  sitting-room  rolled  up  as  you  told  me  to  roll 
it  up  and  tied  with  a  piece  of  cotton.  It  was  your  own 
idea  as  the  thing  was  to  be  left  about  casual-like  aa 
being  less  calculated  to  excite  suspicion.  And  there  it 
is  at  the  present  moment,  and  I'll  take  my  hoath  to  it." 

Henson  fairly  gasped.  He  had  been  inside  that  said 
sitting-room  not  two  hours  before,  and  he  had  not  failed 
to  notice  a  roU  of  paper  on  the  mantelshelf.  And  ob- 
viously Merritt  was  telling  the  truth.  And  equally 
obviously  the  Rembrandt  was  hanging  in  the  corridor 
at  the  present  moment.  Henson  had  solved  and  evolved 
many  mgenious  puzzles  in  his  time,  but  tliis  one  was 
utterly  beyond  him, 

"  Some  trick  of  Dr.  Bell's,  perhaps,"  Merritt  suggested. 

"  BeD  suspects  nothing.  He  is  absolutely  friendly 
to  me.  He  could  not  dLisguise  his  feelings  like  that. 
Upon  my  word  I  was  never  so  utterly  at  sea  before  in  all 
my  life.  And  as  for  Litrimer,  why,  he  has  just  made  a 
fresh  will  more  in  my  favour  than  the  old  one.  But  I'll 
find  out.  I'll  get  to  the  bottom  of  this  business  if  it 
costs  me  a  fortune." 

He  frowned  moodily  at  his  boots  ;  he  turned  the  thing 
over  in  his  mind  until  his  brain  was  dazed  and  muddled. 
The  Rembrandt  had  been  stolen,  and  yet  there  was  tlie 
Rembrandt  in  its  place.  Was  anything  more  amazing 
and  puzzling  ?  And  nobody  else  seemed  in  the  least 
troubled  about  it.  Henson  was  more  than  puzzled ; 
deep  down  in  his  heart  he  was  frightened. 

I  must  keep  my  eyes  open,"  he  said.  "  I  must  watch 
night  and  day.  Do  you  suppose  Miss  Lee  noticed  any- 
thing when  she  called  to-day  ?  " 

"  Not  a  bit  of  it,"  said  Merritt,  confidently.     "  She 


ANOTHER  TELEPHONIC  MESSAGE.        239 

came  to  see  me  ;  she  had  no  eyes  for  anybody  but  your 
humble  servant.  Where  did  she  get  my  address  from  ? 
Why,  didn't  you  introduce  me  to  the  lady  yourself,  and 
didn't  I  tell  her  I  was  staying  at  Moreton  Wells  for  a 
time  ?  I'm  goin'  to  live  in  clover  for  a  bit,  my  pippin. 
Cigars  and  champagne,  wine  and  all  the  rest  of  it." 

"  I  wish  you  were  at  the  bottom  of  the  sea  before  you 
came  here,"  Henson  growled.  "  You  mind  and  be 
careful  what  you're  doing  with  the  champagne.  They 
don't  drink  by  the  tumbler  in  the  society  you  are  in 
now,  remember.  Just  one  or  two  glasses  and  no  more. 
If  you  take  too  much  and  let  your  tongue  run  you  will 
find  your  stay  here  pretty  short." 

Apparently  the  hint  was  not  lost  on  Merritt,  for  dinner 
found  him  in  a  chastened  mood.  His  natural  audacity 
was  depressed  by  the  spl'.ndour  and  luxury  around  him  ; 
the  moral  atmosphere  held  him  down.  There  were  so 
many  knives  and  forks  and  glasses  on  the  table,  such  a 
deal  of  food  that  was  absolutely  strange  to  him.  The 
butler  behind  made  him  shiver.  Hitherto  in  Merritt's 
investigations  into  great  houses  he  had  fought  par- 
ticularly shy  of  butlers  and  coachmen  and  upper  servants 
of  that  kind.  The  butler's  sniff  and  his  cold  suggestion 
as  to  hock  slightly  raised  Merritt's  combative  spirit. 
And  the  champagne  was  poor,  thin  stuff  after  all.  A 
jonim  of  gin  and  water,  or  a  mug  of  beer,  was  what 
Merritt's  soul  longed  for. 

And  what  a  lot  of  plate  there  was  on  the  table  and 
sideboard  !  Some  of  it  was  gold,  too.  Merritt's  greedy 
professional  eye  appraised  the  collection  at  some  hundreds 
of  pounds — hundreds  of  pounds — tliat  is,  after  the  stuff 
had  boon  disposed  of.  In  imagination  he  had  already 
drugged  the  butler  and  was  stufhng  the  plate  into  his 
bag. 

Henson  said  very  little.  He  was  too  busily  engaged 
m  watching  his  confederate.  He  wished  from  the 
bottom  of  his  heart  now  that  Chris  had  never  seen  Mi-rritt. 
She  was  smiling  at  him  now  and  apparently  hanging 
on  every  word.  Henson  had  seen  society  Vadies  doing 
this  kind  of  thing  before  with  well-concealed  contcnii)t. 
So  long  as  people  liked  to  play  his  game  for  hina  he  had 


240  THE  CRIMSON  BLIND. 

no  objection.  But  this  was  quite  different.  Merritt 
had  warmed  a  little  under  the  influence  of  his  fifth  glass 
of  champagne,  but  his  eye  looked  lovingly  and  longingly 
in  the  direction  of  a  silver  spirit-stand  on  the  sidebosird. 

The  dinner  came  to  an  end  at  length,  to  Hensoii's  great 
relief,  and  presently  the  whole  party  wandered  out  to 
the  terrace.     Bell  dropped  behind  with  Chris. 

"  Now  is  your  time,"  he  whispered.  "  Henson  dare 
not  lose  siglit  of  Merritt  before  he  goes  to  bed,  and  I'll 
keep  the  latter  out  here  for  a  good  long  spell.  I've 
mulTled  the  striker  of  the  telephone  so  that  the  bell  will 
make  no  noise  when  you  get  your  call  back  from  Brighton, 
so  that  you  must  be  near  enough  to  the  instrument  to 
hear  the  click  of  the  striker.     Make  haste." 

Chris  dropped  back  to  the  library  and  rapidly  fluttered 
over  the  leaves  of  the  "  Telephone  Directory."  She 
found  what  she  wanted  at  length  and  asked  to  be  put 
on  to  Brighton.  Then  she  sat  down  in  an  armchair^ln 
the  darkness  close  under  the  telephone,  pirepared  to  wait 
patiently.  She  could  just  see  the  men  on  the  terrace, 
could  catch  the  dull  glow  red  of  their  cigars. 

Her  patience  was  not  unduly  tried.  At  the  end  of  a 
quarter  of  an  hour  the  striker  clicked  furiously.  Chris 
reached  for  the  receiver  and  lay  back  comfortably  in 
her  chair  with  the  diaphragm  to  her  ear.  "  Are  you 
there  ?  "  she  asked,  quietly.     "  Is  that  you,  Mr.  Steel  ?  " 

To  her  great  relief  the  answering  voice  was  Steel's 
own.  He  seemed  to  be  a  little  puzzlcd^as  to  who  his 
questioner  was. 

"  Can't  you  guess  ?  "  Chris  replied.  "  This  is  not  the 
first  time  I  have  had  you  called.  You  have  not  for- 
gotten 218,  Brunswick  Square,  yet  ?  " 

Chris  smiled  as  she  heard  Steel's  sudden  exclamation, 

"  So  you  are  my  fair  friend  whom  I  saw  in  the  dark  ?  " 
he  said.  "  Yes,  I  recognise  your  voice  now.  You  are 
Miss  Chns — well,  I  won't  mention  the  name  aloud, 
because  people  might  ask  what  a  well-regulated  corpse 
meant  by  rousing  respectable  people  up  at  midnight. 
(  hope  you  are  not  going  to  get  me  into  trouble  again.** 

••  No,  but  I  am  going  to  ask  your  advice  and  assistance. 
I  want  you  to  be  so  good  as  to  give  roe  the  plot  of  a 


ANOTHER  TELEPHONIC  MESSAGE.      241 

story  after  I  have  told  you  the  details.  And  you  are  to 
scheme  the  thing  out  at  once,  please,  because  delay  is 
dangerous.     Dr.  Bell " 

"  What's  that  ?  Will  you  tell  me  where  you  are 
speaking  from  ?  " 

"  I  am  at  present  located  at  Littimer  Castle.  Yes, 
Dr.  Bell  is  here.     Do  you  want  him  ?  " 

"  I  should  think  so,"  Steel  exclaimed.  "  Please  tell 
him  at  once  that  the  man  who  was  found  here  half  dead 
— you  know  the  man  I  mean — got  up  and  dressed  himself 
in  the  absence  of  the  nurse  and  walked  out  of  the  hospital 
this  morning.  Since  then  he  has  not  been  seen  or  heard 
of.  I  have  been  looking  up  Bell  everywhere.  Will  you 
tell  him  this  at  once  ?  I'll  go  into  your  matter  after- 
wards. Don't  be  afraid  ;  I'll  tell  the  telephone  people 
not  to  cut  us  ofi  till  I  ring.     Please  go  at  once." 

The  voice  was  urgent,  not  to  say  imperative.  Chris 
dropped  the  receiver  into  its  space  and  crept  iato  the 
darkness  in  the  direction  of  the  terrace. 


CHAPTER   XXXVIIL 

A  LITTLE   FICTION. 

Bbll  seemed  to  know  by  intuition  that  Chris  required 
him,  or  perhaps  he  caught  a  gUmpse  of  her  white  dress 
from  the  terrace.  Anyway,  he  strolled  leisurely  in 
her  direction. 

"  Something  has  happened  ?  "  he  whispered,  as  he 
came  up. 

"  Well,  yes,"  Chris  replied,  "  though  I  should  like  to 
know  how  you  guessed  that.  I  had  no  difliculty  in 
getting  Mr.  Steel  on  the  telephone,  but  he  would  say 
nothing  directly  he  heard  that  you  were  here  beyond  a 
peremptory  request  that  you  were  to  be  told  at  once 
that  Van  Sneck  has  gone." 

"  Gone !  "  Bell  echoed,  blankly.  "  What  do  you 
mean  by  that  ?  " 

"  He  has  disappeared  from  the  hospital  at  Brighton 
to-day.  Mr.  Steel  thinks  they  were  extra  busy,  or 
something  of  that  kind.  Anyway,  Van  Sneck  got  up 
and  dressed  himself  and  left  the  hospital  without  being 
observed.     It  seems  extraordinary  to  me." 

"  And  yet  quite  possible,"  Bell  said,  thoughtfully. 
"  Van  Sneck  had  practically  recovered  from  the  flesh 
wounds  ;  it  was  the  injury  to  his  head  that  was  the 
worst  part.  He  resembled  an  irresponsible  lunatic  more 
than  anything  else.     Steel  wants  me,  of  course  ?  " 

"  He  suggests  that  you  should  go  down  to  Brighton 
without  delay." 

«4a 


A  LITTLE   FICTION.  243 

"  All  right,  I'll  make  some  excuse  to  take  the  first 
train  in  the  morning.  We've  got  a  fine  start  of  Henson, 
and  that's  a  good  thing.  If  Van  Sneck  comes  within 
his  net  we  shall  have  a  deal  of  trouble.  I  had  hoped  to 
get  permission  to  operate  on  Van  Sneck,  and  relied  upon 
him  to  solve  the  mystery.  And  now  you  had  better 
go  back  to  your  telephone." 

Chris  hurried  back  again.  A  whispered  word  satisj&ed 
her  that  Steel  was  still  at  the  other  end. 

"  Dr.  Bell  starts  as  early  as  possible  to-morrow,"  she 
said.  "  If  you  will  listen  carefully  I  will  give  you^a 
brief  outUne  of  all  that  has  happened  since  I  have  been 
here." 

Chris  proceeded  to  tell  her  story  succinctly  and  briefly. 
From  little  sounds  and  signs  she  could  tell  that  Steel  was 
greatly  interested.  The  story  of  the  man  with  the  thumb 
fascinated  him.     It  appealed  to  his  professional  instincts. 

"  And  what  do  you  want  to  do  with  him  ?  "  Steel 
asked. 

"  Well,  you  see,  I  have  him  in  my  power,"  Chris 
explained.  "  We  can  get  the  other  Rembrandt  any 
time  we  like  now,  but  that  is  quite  a  minor  consideration. 
What  I  want  is  for  Merritt  to  know  that  I  can  have  him 
arrested  at  any  time  for  stealing  my  star.  It's  Enid's 
star,  as  a  matter  of  fact ;    but  that  is  a  detail." 

"  An  important  one,  surely,"  Steel's  voice  came  thin 
and  clear.  "  Suppose  that  our  dear  friend  chances  to 
recognise  it  ?  .  .  .  No,  don't  ring  ofl  yet." 

"  I'm  not.  Oh,  you  are  speaking  to  the  Exchange 
people.  .  .  .  Yes,  yes  ;  we  shall  be  a  long  time  yet.  .  .  . 
Are  you  there  ?  Well,  Henson  has  never  seen  the  star. 
Enid  bought  it  just  before  the  great  trouble  came,  and 
afterwards  she  never  had  the  heart  to  wear  it." 

"  I  understand.     You  want  Merritt  to  know  this  ?  " 

"  Well,  I  do  and  I  don't,"  Chris  explained.  "  I  am 
anxious  not  to  frighten  the  man.  I  want  to  get  him 
in  my  power,  and  I  want  to  prove  to  him  that  it  would  be 
to  his  advantage  for  him  to  come  over  to  my  side. 
Suppose  that  Enid  gave  it  out  that  the  star  had  been 
stolen  ?  And  suppose  that  I  could  save  him  at  the 
critical  moment  P     I  shouldn't  mind  him  thinking  that 


244  THE  CRIMSON   BLIKD. 

I  had  stolen  the  star  in  the  first  place.  That  is  why  I 
am  asking  yoti  as  a  nov  elist  to  help  me." 

"  You  would  have  made  an  excellent  novelist  your- 
self," David  said,  admirin^'ly.  "  Give  me  five  minutes. 
.  .  .  Are  you  there  ?  I  fancy  I  have  it.  Can't  you 
hear  me  ?  That's  better.  I'll  see  Miss  Gates  the  fi.st 
thing  in  the  morning  and  get  her  to  go  over  to  Longocan 
and  see  your  sister.  .  .  .  Confound  it,  don't  cut  us  off 
yet.  What  does  it  matter  so  long  as  the  messages  are 
paid  for  ?  Nobody  else  wants  the  line.  Well,  I  may 
for  an  hour  more.  .  .  .  Are  you  there  ?  Very  sorry ; 
it's  the  fault  of  the  Post  Office  people.  Here  is  the  plot 
in  a  nutshell.  Your  sister  has  lost  a  diamond  star. 
She  gives  a  minute  description  of  it  to  the  police,  and 
drops  a  hmt  to  the  effect  that  she  believes  it  was  taken 
away  by  mistake — in  other  words,  was  stolen — from 
her  in  London  by  a  chance  acquaintance  called  Cliristabel 
Lee " 

"  Ah,"  Chris  cried,  "  how  clever  you  are  !  " 

"  I  have  long  suspected  it,"  the  thin  voice  went  on, 
drily.  "  The  full  description  of  the  star  will  be  printed 
in  the  Police  Gazette,  a  copy  of  which  every  respectable 
pawnbroker  always  gets  regularly.  I  suppose  the  people 
where  the  star  was  pawned  are  respectable  ?  " 

"  Highly  so.  They  have  quite  a  Bond  Street  estab- 
lishment attached." 

"  So  much  the  better.  They  will  see  the  advertise- 
ment, and  they  will  communicate  with  the  police.  The 
Reverend  James  Merritt  will  be  arrested " 

"  I  don't  quite  like  that,"  Chris  suggested. 

**  Oh,  it's  necessary.  He  will  be  arrested  at  the 
castle.  Knowing  his  antecedents,  the  police  will  not 
stand  upon  any  ceremony  with  him.  You  will  be  filled 
with  remorse.  You  have  plunged  back  into  a  career  of 
crime  again  a  being  who  was  slowly  climbing  into  the 
straight  path  once  more.  You  take  the  blame  upon 
yourself — it  was  at  your  instigation  that  Merritt  pawned 
the  star." 

"  But,  really.  Mr.  Steel " 

"  Oh,  I  know.  But  the  end  justifies  the  means.  You 
•ave  Mr.  Merritt.  there  is  a  bond  of  sympathy  between 


A  LITTLE  FICTION.  245 

yaa,  be  will  regard  you  as  a  great  light  in  his  interesting 
profession.  You  saved  him  because  you  had  appro- 
priated the  star  yourself." 

"  And  go  to  gaol  instead  of  Mr.  Merritt  ?  ** 

"  Not  a  bit  of  it.  The  star  you  deemed  to  be  yours^ 
You  had  one  very  like  it  when  you  saw  Miss  Hensoii, 
when  you  were  staying  in  London  at  the  same  hotel. 
By  some  means  the  jewels  got  mixed.  You  are  con- 
fident that  an  exchange  has  been  made.  Also  you  are 
confident  that  if  Miss  Henson  will  search  her  jewel-case 
she  will  find  a  valuable  star  that  does  not  belong  to  her. 
Miss  Henson  does  so,  she  is  distressed  beyond  measure, 
she  offers  all  kinds  of  apologies.  Exit  the  police.  You 
need  not  tell  Merritt  how  you  get  out  of  the  difficulty, 
and  thus  you  increase  his  respect  for  you.  There,  that 
would  make  a  very  ingenious  and  plausible  magazine 
story.     It  should  be  more  convincing  in  real  life." 

"  Capital  !  "  Chris  murmured.  "  What  an  advantage 
it  is  to  have  a  novelist  to  advise  one  !  Many,  many  thanks 
for  all  your  kindness.     Good-night !  " 

Chris  rang  off  with  a  certain  sense  of  relief.  It  was 
some  time  later  before  she  had  a  chance  of  conveying  to 
Bell  what  had  happened.  He  listened  gravely  to  all 
that  Chris  had  to  say. 

"  Just  the  sort  of  feather-brained  idea  that  would 
occur  to  a  novehst,"  he  said.  "  For  my  part,  I  should 
prefer  to  confront  Merritt  with  his  theft,  and  keep  the 
upper  hand  of  him  that  way." 

"  And  he  would  mistrust  me  and  betray  me  at  the 
first  opportunity.  Besides,  in  that  case,  he  would  know 
at  once  that  I  wanted  to  get  to  the  bottom  of  his  con- 
nection with  Reginald  Henson.  Mr.  Steel's  plan  may 
be  bizarre,  but  it  is  safe." 

"  I  never  thought  of  that,"  Bell  admitted.  "  I  begin 
to  imagine  that  you  are  more  astute  than  I  gave  you 
credit  for,  which  Ls  saying  a  great  deal." 

Chris  was  down  early  the  following  morning,  only  to 
find  Bell  at  breakfast  with  every  sign  of  making  an  eany 
departure.  He  was  very  sorry,  he  explained,  gravely, 
to  his  host  and  Chris,  but  his  letters  gave  him  no  option. 
He  would  come  back  in  a  day  or  two  if  he  might.     A 


m6  the  crimson  blind. 

moment  later  Henson  came  into  the  room,  ostentatioutly 
studying  a  Bradshaw. 

"  And  where  are  you  going  ?  "  Littimer  asked.  "  vVhy 
do  you  all  abandon  me  ?  Reginald,  do  you  mean  to  say 
that  you  are  going  to  refuse  me  the  light  of  your  coun- 
tenance ?  " 

"  Is  Dr.  Bell  going,  too  ?  "  Henson  asked,  with  just 
a  suggestion  of  uneasiness.     "  I  mean — er " 

"  Business,"  Bell  said.  "  I  came  here  at  great  per- 
sonal inconvenience.     And  you  ?  " 

"  London,"  Henson  replied.  "  A  meeting  to-day  that 
I  cannot  get  out  of.  A  couple  of  letters  by  this  morning's 
post  have  decided  me." 

Chris  said  nothing ;  she  appeared  to  be  quite  in- 
different until  she  had  a  chance  to  speak  to  Bell  alone. 
She  looked  a  little  anxious. 

"  He  has  found  out  about  Van  Sneck,"  she  said. 
"  Truly  he  is  a  marvellous  man  !  And  he  had  no  letters 
this  morning.  I  opened  the  post-bag  personally.  But 
I'm  glad  he's  going,  becaiise  I  shall  have  James  M^nitt 
all  to  myself." 


CHAPTER   XXXIX4 

THE   FASCINATION   OF   JAMES   MERRITT* 

On  the  whole  Mr.  James  Merritt,  ex-convict  and  now 
humanitarian,  was  enjoj'ing  himself  immensely.  He 
did  nut  sleep  at  the  castle,  for  Lord  Littimer  drew  the 
hne  there,  but  he  contrived  to  get  most  of  his  meals 
under  that  hospitable  roof,  and  spent  a  deal  of  time 
there.  It  was  by  no  means  the  first  time  he  had  been 
"  taken  up "  by  the  aristocracy  since  his  conversion, 
and  his  shyness  was  wearing  off.  Moreover,  Henson 
had  given  his  henchman  strict  instructions  to  keep  his 
eyes  open  with  a  view  to  getting  at  the  bottom  of  the 
Rembrandt  mystery. 

Still,  there  is  always  a  crumpled  rose-leaf  somewhere, 
and  Merritt  had  his.  A  few  days  after  Henson  departed 
so  hurriedly  from  town  the  stolen  Rembrandt  disappeared 
from  Mcrritt's  rooms.  Nobody  knew  anything  about 
it ;  the  thing  had  vanished,  leaving  no  trace  of  the  thief 
behind.  Perhaps  Merritt  would  have  been  less  easy  in 
Littimer's  society  had  he  known  that  the  missing  print 
was  securely  locked  away  in  the  lattcr's  strong  room. 
Still,  had  Merritt  been  acquainted  with  the  classics, 
carpe  diem  would  like  as  not  have  been  his  favourite 
motto.  He  declined  to  worry  over  the  matter  untii 
Henson's  return.  It  was  not  for  him  to  know,  yet,  tliat 
Chris  had  actually  gone  over  to  Moreton  Wells,  and, 
duiing  the  absence  of  .Mcrritt's  landlady,  calmly  walked 
into  the  house  and  taken  the  picture  away. 

«47 


248  THE  CRIMSON    BLIND. 

"  You  are  going  to  see  some  fun  presently/*  she  said, 
coolly,  to  the  astonished  Littinier,  as  she  laid  the  missing 
picture  before  him.  "  No,  I  shall  not  tell  you  anything 
more  at  present.  You  shall  hear  the  whole  story  when 
Reginald  Hcnson  stands  in  the  pillory  before  you.  You 
know  now  that  Henson  was  at  the  bottom  of  the  plot 
to  destroy  Dr.  Bell's  character  ?  " 

"  I  always  felt  that  our  Reginald  was  a  great  scoundrel," 
Littimer  purred  over  his  cigarette.  "  And  if  you  succeed 
in  exposing  him  thorouglily  I  shall  watch  the  perform- 
ance with  the  greatest  possible  pleasure.  I  am  not 
curious,  my  dear  young  lady,  but  I  would  give  sixpence 
to  know  who  you  are." 

"  Keep  your  sixpence,"  Chris  laughed,  "  and  you'll 
know  all  in  good  time.  All  I  ask  is  not  to  be  astonished 
at  anything  that  happens." 

Littimer  averred  that  he  had  long  since  lost  the  power 
of  astonishment.  There  was  a  brightness  and  restless- 
ness about  Chris  to-day  that  considerably  added  to  her 
charms.  It  was  nearly  a  week  now  since  Bell  and 
Henson  had  departed,  and  in  the  meantime  Chris  had 
heard  nothing  from  Longdean.  Half  an  hour  before  a 
telegram  had  arrived  to  the  effect  that  a  gentleman  in  a 
blue  coat  might  be  expected  at  Littimer  Castle  at  any 
moment.  The  police  were  coming,  and  Merritt  was  late 
to-day.  If  Merritt  failed  to  turn  up  the  whole  situation 
would  be  spoilt.  It  was  with  a  feeling  of  unutterable 
relief  that  Chris  saw  him  coming  up  the  drive." 

"  Come  on  the  terrace,"  she  said.  "  I  have  something 
very  serious  to  say  to  you.  Mr.  Merritt,  you  have  got 
us  both  into  very  serious  trouble.     Why  did  you  do  it  ?  " 

"  Ain't  done  nothing,"  Merritt  said,  doggedly.  H« 
repeated  the  old  formula,  "  What's  up  ?  " 

"  Er — it's  about  my  diamond  star,"  said  Chris.  "  I 
lost  it  a  few  days  ago.  If  I  had  known  what  was  going 
to  happen  I  should  have  put  up  with  my  loss.  But  1 
made  mquirics  through  the  police  witliout  saying  a 
word  to  anybody,  and  now  I  find  the  star  was  pawned 
in  Moreton  Wells." 

"  Oh,  lor,"  Merritt  gasped.  "  You  don't  mean  to  say 
the  police  know  that,  miss  ?  " 


'   THE  FASCINATION  OF  JAMES  MERRITT.  249 

"  Indeed  I  do.  You  see,  once  I  anowed  matters  to 
go  out  of  my  hands  I  was  powerless.  The  case  now  rests 
entirely  with  the  pohce.  And  i  am  informed  that  they 
may  come  here  and  arrest  you  at  any  moment.  I  fear 
there  is  no  escape  for  you — you  pawned  the  thing  your- 
self in  your  own  name.  What  a  thousand  pities  you 
yielded  to  sudden  temptation." 

"But  I  found  it,"  Merritt  whined.  "I'll  take  my 
oath  as  I  found  it  under  the  terrace.  I — I — was  rambling 
along  the  cliffs  one  day  and  I  found  it.  And  I  didn't 
know  it  was  yours.  If  I  had  known  it  was  yours,  I'd 
never  have  gone  and  done  no  such  a  thing." 

Chris  shook  her  head  sadly. 

"  And  just  as  you  were  getting  on  so  nicely,"  she 
said. 

"  That's  it,"  Merritt  whined,  brokenly.  "  Just  as  I 
was  properly  spoofing  every l)ody  as  I — I  mean  just  as  I 
was  getting  used  to  a  better  hfe.  But  you  can  save  me, 
miss  ;  you  can  say  as  you  were  hard  up  for  money  and 
that,  knowing  as  I  knew  the  ropes,  you  got  me  to  pawn 
it  for  you.  Put  it  in  that  way  and  there's  not  a  police- 
man in  England  as  can  touch  me." 

"  I  had  thoujrht  of  it,"  Chris  said,  with  a  pretty 
assumption  of  distress.  "  But,  but — Mr.  Merritt,  I 
have  a  temble  confession  to  make.  It  was  not  I  who 
started  the  police  :  it  was  somebody  else.  You  see, 
the  star  was  not  my  property  at  all.  I — I  got  it  in 
London." 

Mr.  Merritt  looked  up  with  involuntary  admiration. 

"  You  don't  mean  to  say  as  you  nicked  it  ?  "  he  asked. 
"  Well,  well." 

Chris  bent  her  face  lower  to  conceal  her  agitation. 
Her  shoulders  were  heaving,  but  not  with  emotion. 
The  warmth  of  Merrill's  admiralion  had  moved  her  to 
silent  laughter,  and  she  had  made  the  exact  impression 
that  she  had  desired. 

"  I  have  telegnqilied  to  the  lady,  who  is  more  or  lest 
of  a  friend  of  mine,"  she  said.  "  I  have  urged  her  to 
take  no  further  steps  in  the  matter.  I  fancy  that  she  is 
a  good  and  kind  girl  and  that — but  a  reply  might  como 
at  any  time." 


850  THE   CRIMSON  BLIND. 

TTiere  was  a  reply  on  the  way  now,  as  Chris  knc\r 
perfectly  well.  The  whole  thing  had  been  carefully 
arranged  and  planned  to  the  moment  by  Steel  and  the 
others. 

"  I  dare  say  they'll  let  you  down  easy,"  Mcrritt  said, 
disconsolately ;  "  but  it'll  be  hot  for  me.  I've  copped 
it  too  many  times  before,  you  see." 

'  Yes,  I  see,"  Chris  said,  thoughtfully.  "  Mr.  Merritt, 
I  have  made  up  my  mind  :  if  I  had  not — er — borrowed 
that  star,  it  would  not  have  been  lost,  and  you  would 
not  have  found  it,  and  there  would  have  been  no  tr  ruble. 
My  conscience  would  not  rest  if  I  allowed  you  to  be 
dragged  back  into  the  old  Ufe  again.  I  am  going  to 
save  you — I  am  going  to  tell  the  police  that  you  pawned 
that  star  for  me  at  my  instigation." 

Merritt  was  touched  even  to  tears.  There  was  not 
an  atom  of  chivalry  in  the  rascal's  composition.  He  had 
little  or  no  heed  for  the  trouble  that  his  companion 
appeared  to  be  piling  up  for  herself,  but  he  was  touched 
to  the  depths  of  his  soul.  Here  was  a  clever  girl,  who 
in  her  own  way  appeared  to  be  a  member  of  his  pro- 
fession, who  was  prepared  to  sacrifice  herself  to  save 
another.  Self-sacrifice  is  a  beautiful  and  tender  thing, 
and  Merritt  had  no  intention  of  tliwarting  it. 

"  Do  that,  and  I'm  your  pal  for  life,"  he  said,  huskily. 
*'  And  I  never  went  back  on  a  pn]  yet.  Ask  anybody  as 
really  knows  me.  'Tain't  as  if  you  weren't  one  of  us, 
neither.  I'd  give  a  trifle  to  know  what  your  little  game 
is  here,  eh  ?  " 

Chris  smiled  meaningly.  Merritt's  delusion  was  dis- 
tinctly to  be  fostered. 

"  You  shall  help  me  then,  presently,"  she  said  in  a 
mysterious  whisper.  "  Help  me  and  keep  your  own 
counsel,  and  there  will  be  the  biggest  job  you  ever  had 
in  your  life.  Only  let  you  and  1  get  out  of  this  mess, 
and  we  shall  see  what  we  shall  see  presently." 

Merritt  looked  speechless  admiration.  He  had  read 
of  this  class  of  high-toned  criminals  in  the  gutter  stories 
peddled  by  certain  publishers,  but  he  had  never  hoped 
to  meet  one  in  the  flesh.  He  was  still  gazing  open- 
mouthed  at  Chris  as  two  men  came  along  the  avenue. 


j  THE  FASCINATION  OF  JAMES  MERRITT.    251 

They  were  both  in  plain  clothes,  but  they  had  "  police- 
man "  writ  large  all  over  them. 

"  Cops,  for  a  million,"  Merritt  gurgled,  with  a  pallid 
face.  "  You  can  tell  'em  when  you're  asleep.  And 
they  are  after  me ;  they're  coming  this  way.  I'll  be 
ail  right  presently." 

*'  I  hope  so,"  Chria  said,  with  a  curling  lip.  **  You 
look  guilty  enough  now." 

Merritt  explained  that  it  was  merely  the  first  emotion, 
and  would  pass  off  presently.  Nor  did  he  boast  in  vain. 
He  was  quite  cool  aa  the  ofi&cers  came  up  and  called 
him  by  name. 

"  That's  me,"  Merritt  said.     "  What's  the  trouble  ?  " 

One  of  the  officers  explained.  He  had  no  warrant, 
he  said,  but  all  the  same  he  would  have  to  trouble  Mr. 
Merritt  to  accompany  him  to  Moreton  Wells.  A  diamond 
star  not  yet  definitely  identified  had  been  handed  over 
to  the  police,  the  same  having  been  pawned  by  James 
Merritt. 

"  That's  quite  right,"  Merritt  said,  cheerfully.  "  I 
pawned  it  for  this  young  lady  here — Miss  Lee.  Of 
course,  if  it  is  not  her  property,  why,  then " 

The  officer  was  palpably  taken  back.  He  knew 
more  than  he  cared  to  say.  The  star  had  been  pledged 
by  Merritt,  as  he  cheerfully  admitted,  but  the  owner  of 
the  star  had  lost  the  gem  in  London  under  suspicious 
circumstances  in  which  Miss  Lee  was  mixed  up.  And  at 
present  it  was  not  the  policy  of  the  poUce  to  arrest  Miss 
Lee.     That  would  come  later. 

"  I  am  afraid  that  there  has  been  a  misapprehension 
altogether,"  Chris  said.  "  Allow  me  to  explain  :  Mr. 
Merritt,  would  you  step  aside  for  a  moment  ?  I  have  to 
apeak  of  private  matters.  Thank  you.  Now,  sir,  I 
am  quite  prepared  to  admit  that  the  ornament  pledged 
does  not  belong  to  me,  but  to  Miss  Henson,  whom  I  met 
in  London.  I  took  the  star  by  mistake.  You  may 
amile,  but  I  have  one  very  like  it.  If  Miss  Henson  had 
searched  her  jewels  properly  she  would  have  found  that 
she  had  my  star — that  I  had  hers.  I  heard  of  the  business 
quite  by  accident,  and  telegraphed  to  Miss  Henson  to 
look  scarchingly  amongst  her  jewels.     She  has  a  largo 


25J  .     THE  CRIMSON  BLIND. 

amount,  and  might  easily  have  overlooked  my  star. 
Here  is  a  boy  with  a  telegram.  Will  you  take  it  from 
him  and  read  it  aloud  ?  It  is  addressed  to  me,  you 
will  find." 

It  was.  It  was  signed  "  Enid  Henson  "  ;  it  went  on 
to  say  that  the  sender  was  fearfiilly  soiry  for  all  the 
trouble  she  had  caused,  but  that  she  had  found  Miss 
Lee's  star  with  her  jewels.  Also  she  had  telegraphed 
at  once  to  the  police  at  Moreton  Wells  to  go  no  farther. 

"  Looks  like  a  mistake,"  the  officer  muttered.  "  But 
if  we  get  that  telegram " 

"  Which  has  reached  the  police-station  by  this  time," 
Chris  interrupted.  "  Come  into  the  castle  and  ask  the 
question  over  the  telephone.  I  suppose  you  are  con- 
nected ?  " 

The  officer  said  they  were  ;  in  fact,  they  had  only 
recently  joined  the  Exchange.  A  brief  visit  to  the 
telephone,  and  the  policeman  came  back,  with  a  puzzled 
air  and  a  little  more  deference  in  his  manner,  with  the 
information  that  he  was  to  go  back  at  once,  as  the  case 
was  closed. 

"  I've  seen  some  near  things  in  my  time,  but  nothing 
nearer  than  this,"  he  said.  "  Still,  it's  all  right  now. 
Very  sorry  to  have  troubled  you,  miss." 

The  officers  departed  with  the  air  of  men  who  had  to 
be  satisfied,  despite  themselves.  Merritt  came  forward 
with  an  admiration  almost  fawning.  He  did  not  know 
quite  how  the  tiling  had  happened,  but  Chris  had 
done  the  police.  Smartness  and  trickery  of  that  kind 
were  the  highest  form  of  his  idolatry.  His  admiration 
was  nearly  beyond  words. 

"  Well,  strike  me,"  he  gasped.  "  Did  ever  anyone 
ever  see  anything  like  that  ?  You,  as  cool  as  possible, 
and  me  with  my  heart  in  my  mouth  all  the  time.  And 
there  ain't  going  to  be  no  trouble,  no  sort  of  bother 
over  the  ticket  ?  " 

"  You  hand  over  that  ticket  to  me,"  Chris  smiled. 
**  and  there  wiH  be  an  end  of  the  matter.  And  if  you 
try  to  play  me  false  in  any  way,  why,  it  will  be  a  bad 
day  for  you.  Give  me  your  assistance,  and  it  will  be 
the  best  day's  vvork  you  ever  did  in  your  life." 


THE  FASCINATION  OF  JAMES  MEKRITT.    253 

Merritt's  heart  was  gained.     His  pride  was  touched. 

"  Me  go  back  on  you  ?  "  he  cried,  hoarsely.  "  After 
what  you've  done  ?  Only  say  the  word,  only  give  old 
Jim  Merritt  a  call,  and  it's  pitch-and-toss  to  manslaughter 
for  those  pretty  eyes  of  yours.  Good  day's  woik  ! 
Aye,  for  both  of  us." 

And  Ciiris  tbc^u^t  so  too« 


CHAPTER   XU 

A     USEFUL     DISCOVERT 

Waiting  with  the  eagerness  of  the  greyhound  in  leash^ 
David  Steel  was  more  aniioyed  and  vexed  over  the  dis- 
appearance of  the  wounded  Van  Sneck  than  he  cared  to 
admit.  He  had  an  uneasy  feeUng  that  the  unseen  foe 
had  checkmated  him  again.  And  he  had  built  up  so 
many  hopes  upon  this  strangely-uninvited  guest  of  his. 
If  that  man  spoke  he  could  tell  the  tmth.  And  both 
Cross  and  Bell  had  declared  that  he  would  not  die. 

David  found  Cross  in  a  frame  of  mind  something  like 
hh  own.  It  was  late  in  the  afternoon  before  it  transpired 
that  Van  Sneck  was  gone,  and,  unfortunately,  David 
did  not  know  where  to  find  Bell  just  at  the  moment. 
Cross  had  very  little  to  say. 

"  A  most  unpleasant  incident,"  he  remarked.  "  But 
these  things  will  happen,  you  know.  We  have  been  so 
busy  lately,  and  our  vigilance  has  been  slightly  relaxed. 
Oh,  it  is  impossible  to  guard  against  everything,  but  he 
is  certain  to  be  found." 

"  You  don't  think,"  David  suggested,  "  that  anybody 
secretly  connected  with  the  man's  past " 

"  No,  I  don't,"  Cross  snapped ;  "  that  would  be 
impossible.  The  man  had  something  on  his  mind,  and 
so  far  as  bodily  condition  was  concerned  he  was  getting 
OTiite  strong  again.  In  his  dazed  state  he  got  up  and 
oressed  himself  and  went  away.  He  seenos  to  have 
been  seeking  for  somebody  or  something  for  days.  We 
are  certain  to  have  him  again  before  long." 


A   USEFUL  DISCOVERY.  255 

With  which  poor  consolation  David  returned  home 
again.  He  was  restless  and  desirous  of  human  com- 
panionship. He  even  resented  it,  as  a  kind  of  affront, 
that  his  mother  had  chosen  at  this  time  to  go  to  Hassocks 
to  stay  with  an  old  friend  for  a  couple  of  days.  That 
Mrs.  Steel  knew  practically  nothing  of  her  son's  trouble 
counted  for  naught.  Therefore  it  was  with  something 
akin  to  pleasure  that  David  found  Ruth  Gates  waiting 
in  the  drawing-room  for  him  when  he  came  in  from  his 
walk  on  the  following  afternoon.  Nothing  had  been 
heard  of  Van  Sneck  in  the  meantime,  but  thanks  to 
Chris's  telephone  message  late  the  previous  night  he 
had  got  in  touch  with  Bell,  who  was  coming  south 
without  delay. 

There  was  a  look  of  shy  pleasure  in  Ruth's  eyes  and  a 
deep  carmine  flush  on  her  cheeks. 

"  You  don't  think  that  this  is  very  bold  of  me  ?  " 
she  asked. 

"  I  am  pretty  Bohemian  in  any  case,"  David  laughed, 
as  he  looked  down  fondly  into  the  shy,  sweet  eyes. 
"  And  I'm  too  overjoyed  to  see  you  to  think  about  any- 
thing else.  I  wish  my  mother  was  at  home.  No,  I 
don't,  because  I  have  you  all  to  myself." 

"  David  !  On  an  occasion  like  tliis  you  ought  to  be 
the  pink  of  propriety.  Do  you  know,  I  believe  that  I 
have  made  a  great  discovery  ?  " 

"  Indeed,  little  girl  !     And  what  have  you  found  out  ?  " 

"  Well,  you  must  tell  me  something  before  my  dis- 
covery seems  valuable.  David,  you  are  a  close  st  ident 
of  human  nature.  Is  it  possible  for  men  of  phenomenal 
cunning  to  make  careless  mistakes  ?  Do  the  most 
clever  criminals  ever  make  childish  blunders  ?  " 

"  My  dear  child,  if  they  didn't  the  police  would  have 
very  little  chance.  For  instance,  I  have  discovered  how 
those  enemies  of  ours  got  hold  of  the  notepajier  that 
lured  Van  Sneck  here.  They  sent  a  messenger  to 
Carter's,  in  East  Street,  presumedly  knowing  that  my 
dies  were  there,  and  ordered  a  quarter  of  a  ream  of 
paper  and  envelopes.  These  were  to  be  sent  to  an 
address  in  East  Grinstead  in  a  hurry.  Now,  that  was 
very  clever  and  smart,  but  here  coni'  s  the  folly.     Those 


256  THE  CRIMSON  BLIND. 

people,  in  the  stress  of  business,  actually  forgot  to  ascer» 
tain  the  cost  and  pay  for  the  paper,  so  that  it  was  down 
yesterday  in  my  last  quarter's  bill.  Oh,  yes,  I  assure 
you,  the  most  brilliant  criminals  do  the  most  incredibly 
foolish  things." 

Ruth  looked  relieved.  Her  pretty  features  relaxed 
into  a  smile. 

"  Then  I  fancy  Reginald  Henson  has  done  so,"  she 
said.  "  I  fancy  I  have  solved  the  mystery  of  the  cigar- 
case — I  mean,  the  mystery  of  tlie  one  I  bought." 

"  And  which  was  changed  for  the  one  purchased  at 
Walen's,  hence  these  tears.  But  Lockharts  say  that 
our  case  was  really  purchased  by  an  American." 

"  Yes,  I  know.  And  I  fancy  that  the  manager 
honestly  thought  so.     But  I  think  I  can  explain  that." 

It  was  David's  turn  to  look  up  eagerly. 

"  Do  you  mean  it  ?  "  he  exclaimed.  "  It  will  make 
a  wonderful  difference  if  you  can.  That  has  been  one 
of  the  most  bewildering  knots  of  the  whole  puzzle.  If 
we  could  only  trace  the  numbers  of  those  notes,  I  supj^ose 
changed  at  the  same  time  as  the  cigar-case." 

"  Indeed  they  were  not,"  Ruth  cried.  "  I  have 
ascertained  that  the  case  was  changed  by  Henson,  as  you 
and  I  have  already  decided.  Henson  made  the  exchange 
not  at  the  time  we  thought." 

"  Not  when  you  left  the  package  on  the  table  for  him 
to  see  ?  " 

"  No ;  at  least  I  can't  say.  He  had  the  other  case 
then,  probably,  passed  on  to  him  by  Van  Sneck.  Or 
perhaps  he  merely  ascertained  what  I  had  purchased. 
That  was  sufficient  for  his  purpose.  Of  course  he  must 
have  found  out  all  about  our  scheme.  After  I  had  laid 
my  cigar-case  on  your  doorstep  a  man  quietly  changed 
it  for  the  other  purchased  at  Walen's.  But  this  is  the 
alternate  theory  only.  Any  way,  I  am  absolutely  certain 
that  you  got  exactly  the  same  notes  that  we  had  placed 
in  the  original  case." 

"That  might  be,"  David  said,  thoughtfully.  "But 
that  does  not  explain  the  fact  that  Lockhart's  sold  your 
case  to  an  American  at  the  Metropole." 

"  I  fancy  I  can  even  explain  that,  dear.     My  uncle 


A  USEFUL  DISCOVERY.  257 

came  down  suddenly  to-day  from  London.  He  wanted 
certain  papers  in  a  great  hurry.  Now,  those  papers 
were  loclced  up  in  a  drawer  at  219  given  over  specially 
to  Mr.  Henson.  My  uncle  promptly  broke  open  the 
drawer  and  took  out  the  papers.  Besides  those  docu- 
ments the  drawer  contained  a  package  in  one  of  Lock- 
hart's  big  linen-lined  envelopes — a  registered  letter 
envelope,  in  fact.  My  uncle  had  little  time  to  spare,  as 
he  was  bound  to  be  back  in  London  to-night.  He  sug- 
gested that  as  the  back  of  the  drawer  was  broken  and 
the  envelope  presumably  contained  valuables,  I  had 
better  take  care  of  it.  Well,  I  must  admit  at  once  that 
I  steamed  the  envelope  open.  I  shouldn't  have  done 
so  if  Lockhart's  name  had  not  been  on  the  flap.  In  a 
little  case  inside  I  found  a  diamond  bracelet,  which  I 
have  in  my  pocket,  together  with  a  receipted  bill  for 
seventy  odd  pounds  made  out  to  me." 

"  To  you  ?  "  David  cried.  "  Do  you  mean  to  say 
that " 

"  Indeed  I  do.  The  receipt  was  made  out  to  me,  and 
with  it  was  a  little  polite  note  to  the  effect  that  Messrs. 
Lockhart  had  made  the  exchange  of  the  cigar-case  for 
the  diamond  bracelet,  and  that  they  hoped  Miss  Gates 
would  find  the  matter  perfectly  satisfactory." 

David  was  too  astonished  to  say  anything  for  the 
moment.  The  skein  Wcis  too  tangled  to  be  thought  out 
all  at  once.     Presently  he  began  to  see  his  way. 

"  Under  ordinary  circumstances  the  change  seems 
impossible,"  he  said.  "  Especially  seeing  that  the 
juggling  could  not  have  been  done  without  both  the 
cases — but  I  had  forgotten  how  easily  the  cases  were 
changed.     I  have  it !     What  is  the  date  of  that  letter  ?  " 

Ruth  slowly  unfolded  a  document  she  had  taken 
from  her  purse. 

"  The  day  following  what  you  call  your  great  ad- 
venture," she  said.  "  Henson  or  somebody  took  the 
real  case — my  case — back  to  Lockhart's  and  changed  it 
in  my  name.  I  had  previously  been  admiring  this  self- 
same bracelet,  and  tlioy  had  tried  to  sell  it  to  me.  My 
dear  boy,  don't  you  see  this  is  all  part  of  the  j^lot  to 
plunge  you  deeper  and  deeper  into  trouble,  to  force  us 

R 


258  THE   CRIMSON   BLIND. 

all  to  speak  to  save  you  ?  There  are  at  least  fifteen 
assistants  at  Lockharl's.  Of  course  the  ultimate  sale 
of  the  cigar-case  to  this  American  could  be  proved, 
seeing  that  the  case  had  got  back  into  stock  again,  and 
at  the  same  time  the  incident  of  the  change  quite  for- 
gotten. And  when  you  go  and  ask  questions  at  Lock- 
hart's — as  you  were  pretty  sure  to  do,  as  Henson  knew — 
you  are  told  of  the  sale  only  to  the  American.  Depend 
upon  it,  that  American  was  Henson  himself  or  somebody 
in  his  pay,  David,  that  man  is  too  cunning,  too 
complex.  And  some  of  these  days  it  is  going  to  prove 
his  fall." 

David  nodded  thoughtfully.  And  yet,  without 
something  very  clever  and  intricate  in  the  way  of 
a  scheme,  Henson  could  not  have  placed  him  in  his 
present  fix. 

"  There  is  only  one  thing  to  be  done,"  he  said.  "  You 
and  I  must  go  down  to  Lockhart's  and  make  a  few 
inquiries.  With  that  diamond  bracelet  and  letter 
in  your  possession  you  should  have  no  difficulty 
in  refreshing  their  memories.  Will  you  have  some 
tea  ?  " 

"  I  am  too  excited,"  Ruth  laughed.  "  I  couldn't  eat 
or  drink  anything  just  at  present.  David,  what  a  lovely 
house  you  have." 

"  I'm  glad  to  hear  that  you  are  going  to  like  it," 
David  said,  drily. 

Lockhart's  received  their  customers  in  the  usual 
courtly  style.  They  were  sorry  they  had  no  recollection 
of  the  transaction  to  which  madam  referrcfl.  The  sale 
of  the  bracelet  was  clear,  because  that  was  duly  and 
properly  recorded  on  the  books,  and  as  indeed  was  the 
sale  of  the  gun-metal  cigar-case  to  an  American  gentle- 
man at  the  Metropole.  If  madam  said  that  she  had 
purchased  the  cigar-case,  why — still  the  polite  assistant 
was  most  courteously  incredulous. 

The  production  of  the  letter  made  a  difference.  There 
was  a  passing  of  confidences  from  one  plate-glass  counter 
to  another,  and  presently  another  assistant  came  for- 
ward. He  profoundly  regretted  that  there  had  been  a 
mistake,    but   he   remembered    the    incident    perfectly. 


A  USEFUL  DISCOVERY.  tsg 

It  was  the  day  before  he  had  departed  on  his  usual 
monthly  visit  to  the  firm's  Paris  branch.  Madam  had 
certainly  purchased  the  cigar-case  ;  but  before  the  sale 
could  be  posted  in  the  stock  ledger  madam  had  sent  a 
gentleman  to  change  the  case  for  the  diamond  bracelet 
previously  admired.  The  speaker  had  attended  to  both 
the  sale  and  the  exchange  ;  in  fact,  his  cab  was  waiting 
for  him  during  the  latter  incident. 

"  I  trust  there  is  nothing  wrong  ?  "  he  asked,  anxiously. 

"  Not  in  the  least,"  Ruth  hastened  to  reply.  "  The 
whole  matter  is  a  kind  of  comedy  that  I  wanted  to  solve. 
It  is  a  family  joke,  you  understand.  And  who  made  the 
exchange  ?  " 

"  Mr.  Gates,  madam.  A  tall  gentleman,  dressed 
in " 

"  That  is  quite  sufficient,  thank  you,"  said  Ruth. 
"  I  am  sorry  to  trouble  you  over  so  silly  a  matter." 

The  assistant  assured  madam  with  an  air  of  painful 
reproach  that  nothing  was  counted  a  trouble  in 
that  establishment.  He  bowed  his  visitors  out  and 
informed  them  that  it  was  a  lovely  afternoon,  a  self- 
evident  axiom  that  the  most  disputatious  could  not 
well  deny. 

"  You  see  how  your  inquiries  might  have  been  utterly 
baffled  but  for  this  find  of  mine,"  Ruth  said,  as  the  two 
went  along  North  Street.  "  We  shall  find  presently 
that  the  Metropole  American  and  Reginald  Henson  are 
one  and  the  same  person." 

"  And  you  fancy  that  he  made  the  exchange  at  Lock- 
hart's  ?  " 

"  I  feel  pretty  certain  of  it,"  Ruth  replied.  "  And 
you  will  be  sure  later  on  to  find  that  he  had  a  hand  in 
the  purchase  of  the  other  cigar-case  from  VValen's.  Go 
to  Marley's  and  get  him  to  make  inquiries  as  to  whether 
or  not  Walen's  got  their  case  down  on  approval." 

David  proceeded  to  do  so  without  further  delay. 
Inspector  Marley  was  out,  but  David  left  a  message  for 
him.  Would  he  communicate  by  telephone  later  on  ? 
Steel  had  just  finished  his  dinner  when  Marley  rang 
him  up. 

"  Are  you  tliere  ?     Yes,   I   have  seen  Walen.     Your 


26o  THE  CRIMSON   BLIND. 

suggestion  was  quite  right.  Customer  had  seen  cigar* 
case  exactly  like  it  in  Lockhart's,  only  too  dear.  Walcn 
dealt  with  some  manufacturers  and  got  case  down.  Oh, 
no,  never  saw  customer  again.  That  sort  of  thing 
happens  to  shopkeepers  every  day.  Yes.  Walen  thinks 
he  would  recognise  his  man  again.  Nothing  oaoro  ? 
Good-night,  sir." 


CHAPTER   XLL 

A     DELICATE     ERRAND. 

It  looked  like  being  a  long,  dull  evening  for  Steel  if  he 
were  not  going  to  the  theatre  or  anything  of  that  kind. 
He  generally  read  till  about  eleven  o'clock,  after  which 
he  sat  up  for  another  couple  of  hours  plotting  out  the 
day's  task  for  to-morrow.  To-night  he  could  only 
wander  restlessly  about  his  conservatory,  snipping  off  a 
dead  leaf  here  and  there  and  wondering  where  the  whole 
thing  was  going  to  end. 

With  a  certain  sense  of  relief  David  heard  the  front 
door-bell  trill  about  eleven  o'clock.  Somebody  was 
coming  to  see  him,  and  it  didn't  matter  much  who  in 
Steel's  present  frame  of  mind.  But  he  swept  into  the 
study  with  a  feeling  of  genuine  pleasure  as  Hatherly 
Bell  was  announced. 

"  My  dear  fellow,  I'm  delighted  to  see  you,"  he  cried- 
"  Take  the  big  armchair.  Let  me  give  you  a  cigar  and 
a  whisky  and  soda  and  make  you  comfortable.  That's 
better." 

"  I'm  tired  out,"  Bell  said.  "  In  London  all  day,  and 
•ince  six  with  Cross.     Can  you  put  me  up  for  the  night  ?  " 

"  My  bachelor  Ix'droom  is  always  ready,  Bell." 

"  Thanks.  I  don't  fancy  you  need  be  under  any 
apprehension  that  anybody  has  spirited  Van  Sneck 
away.  In  the  first  place  Henson,  who  seems  to  have 
discovered  what  happened,  is  in  a  terrible  state  about  it. 
He  wanted  very  bacUy  to  remain  at  Littimer,  but  when 

s6i 


THE  CRIMSON  BLIND. 

he  heard  that  Van  Sueck  had  left  the  hospital  he  cams 
down  here  ;  in  fact,  we  travelled  together,  Of  course 
he  said  nothing  whatever  about  Van  Sneck,  whom  he  is 
supposed  to  know  nothing  about,  but  I  could  see  that 
he  was  terribly  disturbed.  The  worst  of  it  is  that  Cross 
was  going  to  get  me  to  operate  on  Van  Sneck  ;  and 
Heritage,  who  seems  wonderfully  better,  was  going 
to  assist." 

"  Is  your  unfortunate  friend  up  to  that  kind  of  thing 
now  ?      David  asked. 

"  I  fancy  so.  Do  you  know  that  Heritage  used  to 
have  a  fairly  good  practice  near  Littimer  Castle  ?  Lord 
Littimer  knows  hira  well,  I  want  Heritage  to  come 
into  this.  I  want  to  get  at  the  reason  why  Henson  has 
been  so  confoundedly  good  to  Heritage.  For  years  he 
has  kept  his  eye  upon  him ;  for  years  he  has  practically 
provided  him  with  a  home  at  Palmer's.  And  when 
Heritage  mentions  Henson's  name  he  always  does  so 
with  a  kind  of  forced  gratitude." 

"  You  think  that  Heritage  is  going  to  be  useful  to  us  ?  " 

"  I  fancy  so.  Mind  you,  it  is  only  my  idea — what  I 
call  intuition,  for  want  of  a  better  word.  And  what 
have  you  been  doing  lately  ?  " 

David  proceeded  to  explain,  giving  the  events  of  the 
afternoon  in  full  detail.  Bell  followed  the  account  with 
the  deepest  interest.  Then  he  proceeded  to  tell  his  own 
story.  David  appeared  to  be  fascinated  with  the  tale 
of  the  man  with  the  thumb-naiL 

"  So  Miss  Chris  hopes  to  hypnotise  the  man  with  the 
thumb,"  he  said.  "  You  have  seen  more  of  her  than  I 
have,  Bell.  Does  she  strike  you  as  she  strikes  me — a 
girl  of  wonderfully  acute  mind  allied  to  a  pluck  and 
audacity  absolutely  brilliant  ?  " 

"  She  is  that  and  more,"  Bell  said,  warmly.  "  Now 
that  she  is  free  to  act  she  has  developed  wonderfully. 
Look  how  cleverly  she  worked  out  that  Rembrandt 
business,  how  utterly  she  puzzled  Henson,  and  how  she 
helped  me  to  get  into  Littimer's  good  books  again 
without  Henson  even  guessing  at  the  reason.  And  now 
she  has  forced  the  confidence  of  that  rascal  Merritt. 
She  has  saved  him  from  a  gaol  into  which  she  might 


A  DELICATE  ERRAND.  263 

have  thrown  him  at  any  moment,  she  has  convinced 
him  that  she  is  something  exceedingly  brilliafit  in  the 
way  of  an  adventuress,  with  a  great  coup  ahead.  Later 
on  she  will  use  Merritt,  and  a  fine  hard-cutting  tool  she 
will  find  him." 

"  Where  is  Henson  at  the  present  moment  ?  "  David 
asked. 

"  I  left  him  in  London  this  afternoon,"  Bell  replied. 
"  But  I  haven't  the  slightest  doubt  in  the  world  that  he 
has  made  his  way  to  Brighton  by  this  time.  In  all 
probability  he  has  gone  to  Longdean." 

Bell  ]:)aused  as  the  telephone  bell  rang  out  shrilly. 
The  mere  sound  of  it  thrilled  both  of  them  with  excite- 
ment. And  what  a  useful  thing  the  telephone  had 
proved  ! 

"  Are  you  there  ?  "  came  the  quick,  small  whisper. 
"  Is  that  you,  Mr.  Steel  ?     I  am  Enid  Henson." 

There  was  a  long  pause,  during  which  David  was 
listening  intently.  Bell  could  see  him  growing  rigid 
with  the  prospect  of  something  keen,  alert,  and  vigorous. 

"  Bell  is  here  with  me  at  this  moment,"  he  said. 
"  Just  wait  a  minute  whilst  I  tell  him.  Don't  go  away, 
please.  Under  the  circumstances  it  might  be  dangerous 
for  me  to  ring  you.  .  .  .  Just  a  moment.  Here's  a 
pretty  mess." 

"  Well,"  Bell  said,  impatiently,  "  I'm  only  a  mere 
man,  after  all." 

"  Henson  is  at  Longdean  ;  he  turned  up  an  hour  ago, 
and  at  the  present  moment  is  having  his  supper  in  the 
library  before  going  to  l)ed.  But  that  is  not  the  worst 
part  of  it.  Williams  heard  the  dogs  making  a  great 
noise  by  the  gates,  and  went  to  see  what  was  wrong. 
Some  poor,  demented  follow  had  climl)cd  over  the  wall, 
and  the  dogs  were  holding  him  up.  Fortunately,  he 
did  not  seem  to  be  conscious  of  his  danger,  and  as  he 
stood  still  the  hounds  did  him  no  harm.  Williams  was 
going  to  put  the  intruder  into  the  road  again  when  Miss 
Henson  came  up.  And  whom  do  you  suppose  the  poor, 
wandering  tram[)  to  be  ?  " 

Bell  pitched  his  cigar  into  tlic  grate  full  of  flowers  and 
jumped  to  his  feet. 


264  THE  CRIMSON   BLIND 

"  Van  Sneck,  for  a  million,"  he  cried.  "  My  head  to 
a  cocoanut  on  it." 

"  The  same.  They  managed  to  get  the  poor  fellow 
into  the  house  before  Williams  brought  Henson  from 
the  lodge,  and  he's  in  the  stables  now  in  a  rather  excited 
condition.  Now,  I  quite  agree  with  Miss  Henson  that 
Henson  must  be  kept  in  ignorance  of  the  fact,  also  that 
Van  Sneck  must  be  got  away  without  delay.  To  inform 
the  hospital  authorities  would  be  to  spoil  everything  and 
play  into  Henson's  hands.  But  he  must  be  got  away 
to-night." 

"  Right  you  are.     We'U  go  and  fetch  him.     Et  aprh  ?  " 

"  Et  afres  he  will  stay  here.  He  shall  stay  here,  and 
you  shall  say  that  it  is  dangerous  to  remove  him.  Cross 
shall  be  told  and  Marley  shall  be  told,  and  the  public 
shall  be  discreetly  kept  in  ignorance  for  the  present.  I'll 
go  over  there  at  once,  as  there  is  no  time  to  be  lost. 
Miss  Henson  suggests  that  I  should  come,  and  she  tells 
me  that  Williams  will  wait  at  the  lodge-gates  for  me. 
But  you  are  going  to  stay  here." 

"  Oh,  indeed  !     And  why  am  I  going  to  stay  here  ?  " 

"  Because,  my  dear  friend,  I  can  easily  manage  the 
business  single-handed,  and  because  you  must  run  no 
risk  of  meeting  Henson  yonder.  You  are  not  now 
supposed  to  know  where  the  family  are,  nor  are  you 
supposed  to  take  the  faintest  interest  in  them.  Stay 
here  and  make  yourself  comfortable  till  I  return.  .  .  . 
Are  you  there  ?  I  will  be  at  Longdean  as  soon  as  possible 
and  bring  Van  Sneck  here.  No,  I  won't  ring  off ;  you 
had  better  do  that.     I  shall  be  over  in  less  than  an  hour." 

David  hung  up  the  receiver  and  proceeded  to  don  a 
short  covert  coat  and  a  cap.  In  the  breast-pocket  of  the 
coat  he  placed  a  revolver. 

"  Just  as  well  to  be  on  the  safe  side,"  he  said.  "  Though 
I  am  not  likely  to  be  troubled  with  the  man  with  the 
thumb  again.  Still,  Henson  may  have  other  blackguards ; 
he  may  even  know  where  Van  Sneck  is  at  the  present 
moment,  for  all  I  know  to  the  contrary." 

"  I  feel  rather  guilty  letting  you  go  alone,"  Bell  said. 

"  Not  a  bit  of  it,"  said  David,  cheerfully.  "  Smoke 
your  cigar,  and  if  you  need  any  supper  ring  for  it.     You 


A   DELICATE  ERRAND.  265 

ran  safely  leave  matters  in  my  hands.  Van  Sneck  shall 
stay  here  till  he  is  fit,  and  then  you  shall  operate  upon 
hira.  After  that  he  ou.qht  to  be  as  clay  in  the  hands 
of  the  potter.     So  long." 

And  David  went  off  gaily  enough.  He  kept  to  the 
cUffs  for  the  first  part  of  the  distance,  and  then  stiiick 
off  across  the  fields  in  the  direction  of  Longdean.  The 
place  was  perfectly  quiet,  the  village  was  all  in  darkness 
as  he  approached  the  lodge-gates  of  the  Grange.  Beyond 
the  drive  and  between  the  thick,  sad  firs  that  shielded 
the  house  he  could  see  the  crimson  hghts  gleaming  here 
and  there.  He  could  catch  the  rumble  and  scratch  in 
the  bushes,  and  ever  and  again  a  dog  whined.  The  big 
gate  was  closed  as  David  peeped  in  secirching  for  his 
guide. 

"  VVilliaras,"  he  whispered  ;  "  Williams,  where  are 
you  ?  " 

But  no  reply  came.  The  silence  was  full  of  strange, 
rushing  noises,  the  rush  of  blood  in  David's  head.  He 
called  again  and  again,  but  no  reply  came.  Then  he 
heard  the  rush  and  fret  of  many  feet,  the  cry  of  a  pack 
of  hounds,  a  melancholy  cry,  with  a  sombre  joy  in  it. 
He  saw  a  light  gleaming  fitfully  in  the  belt  of  firs. 

"  No  help  for  it,"  David  muttered.  "  I  must  chance 
my  luck.  I  never  saw  a  dog  yet  that  I  was  afraid  of. 
Well,  here  goes." 

He  scrambled  over  the  wall  and  dropped  on  the 
moist,  clammy  earth  on  the  other  side.  He  fumbled 
forward  a  few  steps,  and  then  stopped  suddenly,  brought 
up  all  standing  by  the  weird  scene  which  was  bemg 
solemnly  enacted  under  his  astonished  eyes. 


PRINCE     RUPERTS     RING. 

Whilst  events  were  moving  rapidly  outside,  time  at 
Longdean  Grange  seemed  to  stand  still.  The  dust  and 
the  desolation  were  ever  there,  the  gloom  brooded  like 
an  evil  spirit.  And  yet  it  was  but  the  calm  before  the 
storm  that  was  coming  to  banish  the  hoary  old  sj[:)ectres 
for  good. 

Still,  Enid  felt  the  monotony  to  be  as  maddening  as 
ever.  There  were  times  when  she  rebelled  passionately 
against  the  solitude  of  the  place.  There  were  moments 
to  her  when  it  seemed  that  her  mind  couldn't  stand  the 
strain  much  longer. 

But  she  had  hope,  that  blessed  legacy  to  the  sanguine 
and  the  young.  And  there  were  times  when  she  would 
creep  out  and  see  Ruth  Gates,  who  found  the  Rotting- 
dcan  Road  very  convenient  for  cycling  just  now.  And 
there  was  always  the  anticipation  of  a  telephone  message 
from  Chris.  Originally  the  telephone  had  been  estab- 
lished so  that  the  household  could  be  run  without  the 
intrusion  of  tradesmen  and  other  strangers.  It  had 
seemed  a  great  anomaly  at  the  time,  but  now  Enid  blessed 
it  every  moment  of  the  day.  And  she  was,  perhaps, 
not  quite  so  unhappy  as  she  deemed  herself  to  be.  She 
had  her  lover  back  again  now,  with  his  character  free 
fron:  every  imputation. 

The  sun  straggled  in  through  the  dim,  dusty  panes  ; 
the  monotonous  voice  of  Mrs.  Henson  droned  in  the 

a66  > 


PRINCE  RUPERT'S   RING,  167 

drawing-room.  It  was  what  Williams  called  one  of  the 
unhappy  lady's  "  days."  Sometimes  she  was  quiet  and 
reasonable,  at  other  times  the  dark  mood  hung  heavily 
upon  her.  She  was  pacing  up  and  down  the  drawing- 
room,  wringing  her  hands  and  whimpering  to  herself, 
Enid  had  slipped  into  the  grounds  for  a  little  fresh  air ; 
the  house  oppressed  her  terribly  to-day.  The  trim 
lawns  and  blazing  flower-beds  were  a  pleasant  contrast 
to  the  misery  and  disorder  of  the  house. 

Enid  passed  on  into  the  shadow  of  the  plantation. 
A  little  farther  on  nearer  the  wall  the  dogs  seemed  to  be 
excited  about  something.  William's  rusty  voice  could 
be  heard  expostulating  with  some  intruder.  By  him 
stood  a  man  who,  though  fairly  well  dressed,  looked  as 
if  he  had  slept  in  his  garments  for  days.  There  was  a 
dazed,  puzzled,  absent  expression  on  his  face. 

"  You  might  have  been  killed,"  Williams  croaked. 
"  If  you  hadn't  stood  still  they  dogs  would  have  pulled 
you  to  pieces.     How  did  you  get  here  ?  " 

"  I've  lost  it,"  the  stranger  muttered.     "  I've  lost  it 
somewhere,  and  I  shall  have  no  rest  till  I  find  it." 
I-    "Well,  go  and  look  in  the  road,"  Williams  suggested, 
smoothly.     "  Nothing   ever   gets   lost   here.     Just   you 
hop  over  that  Wcdl  and  try  your  luck  outside." 

Enid  came  forward.  Evidently  the  intruder  was  no 
stranger  to  her.  Williams  started  to  explain  volubly. 
But  Enid  cut  him  short  at  once. 

"  A  most  extraordinary  thing  has  happened,"  she  said. 
"  It  is  amazing  that  this  man  should  come  here  of  all 
places.     Williams,  this  is  the  man  Van  Sneck." 

"  What,  the  chap  as  was  wounded  in  the  hospital, 
miss  ?  " 

"  The  same.  The  man  is  not  in  full  possession  of  his 
senses.  And  if  Reginald  Henson  finds  him  now  it  is 
likely  to  go  hard  with  him.  He  must  be  taken  into  the 
hoiise  and  looked  after  until  I  can  communicate  with 
somebody  I  can  trust.  Mr.  Steel,  I  tliink.  He  must  be 
got  back  to  the  hospital.  It  is  tlie  only  place  where  he 
is  safe." 

Van  Sneck  seemed  to  be  looking  on  with  the  vacant 
stare  of  the  mindless.     He  suffered  himself  to  be  led 


268  THE  CRIMSON  BLIND. 

to  the  house,  where  he  was  fed  like  a  child.  It  was  la 
vain  that  Enid  pUcd  him  with  all  kinds  of  questions. 
He  had  lost  something — he  would  have  no  peace  till  he 
had  found  it.  This  was  the  one  burden  of  his  cry. 
Enid  crossed  to  the  window  in  some  perplexity.  The 
next  moment  she  had  something  else  to  occupy  her  mind. 
Kegin:Jd  Hcnson  was  coming  up  the  drive.  Just  for  an 
instant  Enid  felt  inchned  to  despair. 

"  Williams,"  she  cried,  "  Mr.  Henson  is  here.  On  no 
account  must  he  see  our  unfortunate  visitor.  He  cannot 
possibly  know  that  Van  Sneck  is  here  ;  the  whole  thing 
is  an  accident.  I  am  going  down  into  the  hall.  I  shall 
contrive  to  get  Mr.  Henson  into  the  drawing-room. 
Without  delay  you  must  smuggle  Mr.  Van  Sneck  into 
your  apartments  over  the  stable.  You  will  be  perfectly 
safe  if  you  go  down  the  back  staircase.  As  soon  as  the 
drawing-room  door  closes,  go." 

Williams  nodded.  He  was  essentially  a  mail  of  action 
rather  than  words.  With  all  the  coolness  she  could 
summon  up  Enid  descended  to  the  hall.  She  gave  a 
little  gesture  of  surprise  and  disdain  as  she  caught  sight 
of  Henson. 

"  So  you  came  down  to  welcome  me  ?  "  Enid  said, 
coldly. 

A  sudden  light  of  rage  lit  up  Henson's  blue  eyes.  He 
caught  Enid  almost  roughly  by  the  shoulders  and  pushed 
her  into  the  drawing-room.  There  was  something 
coming,  she  knew.  It  was  a  relief  a  minute  or  two  later 
to  hear  Williams's  whistle  as  he  crossed  the  courtyard. 
Henson  knew  nothing  of  Van  Sneck's  presence,  nor  was 
he  likely  to  do  so  now. 

"  You  are  forgetting  yourself,"  Enid  said.  "  How 
dare  you  touch  me  like  that  ?  " 

"  By  heavens,"  Henson  whispered,  vehemently,  "  when 
I  consider  how  I  have  been  fooled  by  you  1  wonder  that 
I  do  not  strike  the  life  out  of  you.  Where  is  your 
sister  ?  " 

Enid  assumed  an  air  of  puzzled  surprise.  She  raised 
her  eyebrows,  coldly.  But  it  needed  no  very  brilliant 
intelligence  to  tell  her  that  Henson  had  discovered 
something. 


PRINCE   RUPERTS   RING.  269 


•  I  had  only  one  sister,"  she  said,  "  and  she  is " 

"  Dead  !  Rot,  No  more  dead  than  I  am.  A  nice 
irttle  scheme  you  had  put  up  together  with  that  scribbling 
ass  David  Steel.  But  Steel  is  going  to  get  a  lesson  not 
to  interfere  in  my  affairs,  and  you  are  going  to  get  one 
also.     Where  is  your  sister  ?  " 

Despite  his  bullying  triumph  there  was  something 
nervous  and  anxious  about  the  tone  of  the  question. 
It  was  not  quite  like  Henson  to  let  his  adversary  see  that 
he  had  scored  a  j)oint.  But  since  the  affair  of  the  dogs 
Henson  had  not  been  quite  his  old  self.  It  was  easy  to 
see  that  he  had  found  out  a  great  deal,  but  he  had  not 
found  out  where  Chris  was  yet. 

"  I  know  nothing,"  said  Enid.  "  I  shall  answer  no 
questions." 

"  Very  well.  But  I  shall  find  out.  Accident  put  me 
on  the  trail  first.  And  I  have  been  to  see  that  man 
Walkef.  He  never  saw  your  sister  after  her  '  death,' 
nor  did  the  undertaker.  And  I  might  have  met  my 
death  at  the  fangs  of  that  dog  you  put  upon  me.  What 
a  fool  Walker  was." 

Enid  looked  up  a  little  anxiously.  Had  Walker  said 
anything  about  a  second  opinion  ?  Had  he  betrayed 
to  Henson  the  fact  that  he  had  been  backed  up  by 
Hatherly  Bell  }  Because  they  had  taken  a  deal  of 
trouble  to  conceal  the  fact  that  Bell  had  been  in  the 
house. 

"  Dr.  Walker  should  have  called  in  another  opinion," 
she  said,  mockingly. 

"  llie  man  was  too  conceited  for  that,  and  you  know 
it,'  Henson  growled;  "and  finelj  you  played  upon 
his  vanity." 

Enid  was  satisfied  Walkei  had  evidently  said  no- 
thing about  Bell  ;  and  Henson,  though  he  had  just  come 
from  Littimer,  knew  noiliing  about  Chris. 

"  You  have  made  a  statement,"  she  said,  "  and  in 
reply  T  say  nothing.  You  have  chosen  to  assume  that 
ray  sister  is  still  alive.  Well,  it  is  a  free  country,  and 
you  are  at  liberty  to  think  as  you  please.     If  we  had 

anything  to  gain  by  the  course  you  suggest " 

'  Anything    to    gain !  "    Henson    burst    out    angrily. 


270  THE  CRIMSON   BLIND. 

"  Everything  to  gain.  One  whom  I  deemed  to  be  dead 
.s  free  to  follow  me  to  pry  into  my  affairs,  to  rob  me. 
That  was  part  of  Steel's  precious  scheme,  I  pre- 
sume. If  you  and  your  sister  and  Miss  Gates  hadn't 
talked  so  loudly  that  day  in  the  garden  I  might 
not " 

"  Have  listened,"  said  Enid,  coldly.  "  Ears  like  a 
hare  and  head  like  a  cat.  But  you  don't  know  every- 
thing, and  you  never  will.  You  scoundrel,  you  creeping, 
crawling  scoundrel  !  If  I  only  dared  to  speak.  If  I 
cared  less  for  the  honour  of  this  unhappy  family " 

"  If  you  could  only  get  the  ring,"  said  Henson,  with  a 
malicious  sneer.  "  JBut  the  ring  is  gone.  The  ruby 
ring  lies  at  the  bottom  of  the  North  Sea." 

Some  passionate,  heedless  words  rose  to  Enid's  lips, 
but  she  checked  them.  All  she  could  do  now  was  to 
watch  and  wait  till  darkness.  Van  Sneck  must  be  got 
out  of  the  way  before  anything  else  was  done.  She 
did  not  dare  to  use  the  telephone  yet,  though  she  had 
made  up  her  mind  to  ask  Steel  to  come  over  and  take 
Van  Sneck  away.  Later  on  she  could  send  the 
message. 

Van  Sneck  had  eaten  a  fairly  good  meal,  so  Williams 
said,  and  had  faUen  into  a  heavy  sleep.  There  was 
nothing  for  it  but  to  wait  and  watch.  Dinner  came  in 
due  course,  with  Mrs.  Henson,  ragged  and  unkempt  as 
usual,  taking  no  notice  of  Henson,  who  watched  her 
furtively  during  the  meal.  Enid  escaped  to  her  own 
room  directly  afterwards,  and  Henson  followed  his 
hostess  to  the  drawing-room. 

Once  there  his  manner  changed  entirely.  His  lips 
grew  firm,  his  eyes  were  like  points  of  steel-  Mrs. 
Henson  was  pacing  the  dusty  floor,  muttering  and  croon- 
ing to  herself.  Henson  touched  her  arm,  at  the  sanie 
time  holding  some  ghttering  object  before  hei  eyes. 
It  was  a  massive  ruby  ring  with  four  black  pearls  on 
either  side. 

"  Look  here,"  he  whispered.  "  Do  yon  recognise  it  ? 
Have  you  seen  it  before  ?  " 

A  pitiful,  wailing  cry  came  from  Mrs.  Henson's  Ups. 
She  was  trembling  from  head  to  foot  with  a  strange 


PRINCE  RUPERT'S   RING.  271 

ag^'tation.  She  gazed  at  the  ring  as  a  thirsty  man  in  a 
desert  might  have  looked  on  a  draught  of  cold  spring 
water.  She  stretched  out  her  hand,  but  Henson  drew 
back. 

"  I  thought  you  had  not  forgotten  it,"  he  smiled. 
"  It  means  much  to  yon,  honour,  peace,  happiness — 
your  son  restored  to  his  proper  place  in  the  world.  Last 
time  I  was  here  I  wanted  money,  a  mere  bagatelle  to 
you.     Now  I  want  £10,000." 

"  No,  no,"  Mrs.  Henson  cried.  "  You  will  ruin  me — 
;fio,ooo  !  \Vhat  do  you  do  with  all  the  money  ?  You 
profess  to  give  it  all  to  charity.  But  I  know  better. 
Much  you  give  away  that  more  may  come  back  from  it. 
But  that  money  you  get  from  a  credulous  public.  And 
I  could  expose  you,  ah,  how  I  could  expose  you,  Reginald 
Henson." 

"  Instead  of  which  you  will  let  me  have  that  £10,000." 

"  I  cannot.  You  will  ruin  me.  Have  you  not  had 
enough  ?     Give  me  the  ring." 

Henson  smilingly  held  the  gem  aloft.  Mrs.  Henson 
raised  her  arm,  with  the  dust  rising  in  choking  clouds 
aroimd  her.  Then  with  an  activity  astonishing  in  one 
of  her  years  she  sprang  upon  Henson  and  tore  the  ring 
from  his  grasp.  The  thing  was  so  totally  unexpected 
from  the  usually  gentle  lady  that  Henson  could  only 
gasp  in  astonishment. 

"  I  have  it,"  Mrs.  Henson  cried.  "  I  have  it,  and  I 
am  free  !  " 

Henson  sprang  towards  her.  With  a  quick,  fleet  step 
she  crossed  to  the  window  and  fled  out  into  the  night. 
A  ra^'ing  madness  seemed  to  have  come  over  her 
again  ;  she  laughed  and  she  cried  as  she  sped  on 
into  the  bushes,  followed  by  Henson.  In  his  fear 
and  desperation  the  latter  had  quite  forgotten  the 
dogs.  He  was  in  the  midst  01  them,  they  were 
clustered  round  himself  and  Mrs.  HeD^'^a,  before  he 
was  aware  of  the  fact. 

"  Give  me  the  rinr^,"  he  said.  "  You  can't  have  it 
yet.  Some  day  I  will  restore  it  to  you.  Be  sensible. 
If  anybody  should  happen  to  see  yon."  Mrs.  Henson 
merely  laughed.    The  dogs  were  gambolling  around  her 


273  THE   CRIMSON   BLIND. 

like  so  many  kittens.  They  did  not  seem  to  heed 
Henson  in  the  joy  of  her  presence.  He  came  on  again, 
he  made  a  grab  for  her  dress,  hut  the  rotten  fabric  parted 
like  a  cobweb  in  his  hand.  A  warning  gnmt  came  from 
one  of  the  dogs,  but  Henson  gave  no  heed. 

"  Give  it  me,"  he  hissed ;   "  or  I  will  tear  it  iroio 
yoo." 


CHAPTER    XLIIL 

NEARING   THE   TRUTH. 

David  Steel  stood  contemplating  the  weird  scene 
with  almost  doubting  eyes.  In  his  wildest  moments  he 
had  never  imagined  anything  more  dramatic  than  this. 
The  candle  in  its  silver  sconce  that  Mrs.  Henson  had 
snatched  up  before  her  flight  was  perilously  near  her 
flimsy  dress.  Henson  caught  her  once  more  in  a  fierce 
grip.  David  could  stand  it  no  longer.  As  Henson  came 
by  him  his  right  arm  flashed  out,  there  was  a  dull  thud, 
and  Henson,  without  having  the  least  idea  what  had 
happened,  fell  to  the  ground,  with  a  very  hazy  idea  of 
his  surroundings  for  a  moment  or  two. 

Equally  unconscious  that  she  had  a  protector  handy, 
Mrs.  Henson  turned  and  fled  for  the  house.  A  minute 
later  and  she  was  followed  by  Henson,  still  puzzling  his 
racking  head  to  know  what  had  happened.  David 
would  have  followed,  but  the  need  for  caution  flashed 
upon  him.  H  he  stood  there  perfectly  still  Henson 
would  never  know  who  his  antagonist  was.  David 
stood  there  waiting.  As  he  glanced  round  he  saw  some 
little  object  ghttering  near  to  his  feet.  It  was  the  ruby 
ring ! 

"  Be  you  there,  sir  ?  "  a  nisty  voice  whispered  close  by, 

"  I  am,  Williams,"  David  replied  ;  I  have  been 
waiting  for  some  time." 

Williams  chuckled,  making  no  kind  of  apology  for 
his  want  of  punctuality. 

a73  • 


»74  THE   CRIMSON   BLIND. 

"  I've  been  looking  after  our  man,  sir,'*  he  said* 
"  That  Dutch  chap  what  Miss  Enid  said  you'd  come  for. 
And  I  saw  all  that  business  in  the  shrubbery  just  now. 
My  !  if  I  didn't  feel  good  when  you  laid  out  Henson  on 
the  grass.  The  sound  of  that  smack  was  as  good  as  ten 
years'  wages  for  me.  And  he's  gone  off  to  liis  room 
with  a  basin  of  vinegar  and  a  ream  of  brown  paper. 
Why  didn't  you  break  his  neck  ?  " 

David  suggested  that  the  law  took  a  prejudiced  view 
of  that  kind  of  thing,  and  that  it  would  be  a  pity  to  han^ 
anyone  for  such  a  creature  as  Reginald  Henson. 

"  Our  man  is  all  right  ?  "  he  asked. 

"  As  a  trivet,"  said  Williams.  "  Sleeping  like  a 
babby  ;  he  is  in  my  own  bed  over  the  stable.  I'll  show 
you  mto  the  harness-room,  where  Miss  Enid's  waiting 
for  you,  sir,  and  then  I'll  go  and  see  as  Henson  don't 
come  prowling  about.  Not  as  he's  likely  to,  considering 
the  clump  on  the  side  of  the  head  you  gave  him.  I  take 
it  kind  of  Providence  to  let  me  see  that ! " 

Williams  hobbled  away,  chuckling  to  himself  and 
followed  by  David.  There  was  a  feeble  oil-lamp  in  the 
harness-room.     Enid  was  waiting  there  anxiously, 

"  So  you  have  put  Henson  out  of  the  way  for  a  time," 
she  said.  "  He  passed  me  just  now  using  awful  lan- 
guage, and  wondering  how  it  had  all  come  about.  Wasn't 
it  a  strange  thing  that  Van  Sneck  should  come  here  ?  " 

"  Not  very,"  David  said.  "  He  is  evidently  looking 
for  his  master,  Reginald  Henson.  I  have  not  the 
slightest  doubt  that  he  has  been  here  many  times  before. 
Williams  says  he  is  asleep.  Pity  to  wake  him  just  yet, 
don't  you  think  ?  " 

"  Perhaps  it  is.  But  I  am  horribly  afraid  of  our  d©ar 
friend  Reginald,  all  the  same." 

"  Our  dear  Reginald  will  not  trouble  us  just  yet. 
He  came  down  as  far  as  London  with  Bell.  Of  course  he 
had  heard  the  news  of  Van  Sneck's  flight.  Was  he 
disturbed  ?  " 

"  I  have  never  seen  him  in  such  a  passion  before, 
Mr.  Steel.  And  not  only  was  he  in  a  passion,  but  he 
was  horribly  afraid  about  something.  And  he  has 
made  a  discovery." 


NEARING  THE   TRUTH.  275 

He  hasn't  found  out  that  your  sister- 


"  Is  at  Littimcr  Castle  ?  That  is  really  the  most 
consoling  part  of  the  business.  He  has  been  at  Littimer 
for  a  day  or  two,  and  he  has  not  the  remotest  idea  that 
Christabel  Lee  is  our  Chris." 

"  A  feather  in  your  sister's  cap.  She  has  quite 
captivated  Littimer,  Bell  says." 

"  And  she  played  her  part  splendidly.  Mr.  Steel,  it 
is  very,  very  good  to  know  that  Hatherly  has  cleared 
himself  in  the  eyes  of  Lord  Littimer  at  last.  Did  Regi- 
nald suspect " 

"  Nothing,"  Steel  said.  "  He  is  utterly  and  hope- 
lessly puzzled  over  the  whole  business.  And  Bell  has 
managed  to  convince  him  that  he  is  not  suspected  at  all. 
That  business  over  the  Rembrandt  was  really  a  brilliant 
bit  of  comedy.     But  what  has  Henson  found  out  ?  " 

"  That  Chris  is  not  dead.  He  has  seen  Walker  and 
the  undertaker.  But  he  does  not  know  yet  that  Dr. 
Bell  was  in  the  house  that  eventful  night,  which  is  a 
blessing.  As  a  matter  of  fact,  Reginald  has  not  been 
quite  the  same  man  since  Rollo  nearly  killed  him  that 
exciting  evening.     His  nerves  seem  to  be  greatly  shaken." 

"  That  is  because  the  rascal  feels  the  net  closing  round 
him,"  Steel  said.  "  It  was  a  fine  stroke  on  your  sister's 
part  to  win  over  that  fellow  Merritt  to  her  side.  I 
supplied  the  details  per  telephone,  but  the  plot  was  really 
Miss  Chris's.  How  on  earth  should  we  have  managed 
without  the  telephone  over  this  business  ?  " 

"  I  am  at  a  loss  to  say,"  Enid  smiled.  "  But  tell  me 
about  that  plot.  I  am  quite  in  the  dark  as  to  that  side 
of  the  matter." 

David  proceeded  to  explain  his  own  and  Chris's  in- 
genious scheme  for  getting  Merritt  into  their  power. 
Enid  followed  the  story  with  vast  enjoyment,  tempered 
with  the  fact  that  Henson  was  so  near. 

"  I  should  never  have  thought  of  that,"  she  said  ; 
"  but  Chris  was  always  so  clever.  But  tell  me,  what  was 
Henson  doing  in  the  garden  just  now  ?  Williams  says 
he  was  illtreating  my  aunt,  but  that  seems  hardly 
possible  even  for  Re^'inald." 

"  It  was  over  a  ring  that  Mrs.  Henson  had,"  David 


276  THE   CRIMSON   BLIND. 

explained.  "  She  was  running  away  with  it,  and  Henson 
was  trying  to  get  it  back.     You  see " 

"  A  ring  !  "  Enid  gasped.     "  Did  you  happen  to  see 

it  ?     Oh,  if  it  is  only .     But  he  would  not  be  so 

silly  as  that.  A  ring  is  the  cause  of  all  the  trouble. 
Did  you  see  it  ?  " 

"  I  not  only  saw  it  but  I  have  it  in  my  possession," 
David  replied. 

Enid  turned  up  the  flaring  little  lamp  with  a  shaking 
hand.  Quite  unstrung,  she  held  out  her  fingers  for 
the  ring. 

"  It  is  just  possible,"  she  said,  hoarsely,  "  that  you 
possess  the  key  of  the  situation.  If  that  ring  is  what  I 
hope  it  is  we  can  tumble  Henson  into  the  dust  to-morrow. 
We  can  drive  him  out  of  the  country,  and  he  will  never, 
never  trouble  us  again.     How  did  you  get  it  ?  " 

"  Mrs.  Henson  dropped  it  and  I  picked  it  up." 

"  Please  let  me  see  it,"  Enid  said,  pleadingly.  "  Let 
me  be  put  out  of  my  misery." 

David  handed  the  ring  over ;  Enid  regarded  it  long 
and  searchingly.  With  a  Uttle  sigh  of  regret  she  passed 
it  back  to  David  once  more. 

"  You  had  better  keep  it,"  she  said.  "  At  any  rate, 
it  is  likely  to  be  valuable  evidence  for  us  later  on.  But 
it  is  not  the  ring  I  hoped  to  see.  It  is  a  clever  copy,  but 
the  black  pearls  are  not  so  fine,  and  the  engraving  inside 
is  not  so  worn  as  it  used  to  be  on  the  original.  It  is 
evidently  a  copy  that  Henson  has  had  made  to  tease  my 
aunt  with,  to  offer  her  at  some  future  date  in  return 
for  the  large  sums  of  money  that  she  gave  him.  No ; 
the  original  of  that  ring  is  popularly  supposed  to  be  at 
the  bottom  of  the  North  Sea.  If  such  had  been  the 
case — seeing  that  Henson  had  never  handled  it  before 
the  Great  Tragedy  came — the  original  must  be  in 
existence," 

"  Why  so  ?  "  David  asked. 

"  Because  the  ring  must  have  been  copied  from  it," 
Enid  said.  "  It  is  a  verv  faithful  copy  indeed,  and  could 
not  have  been  made  from  mere  directions — take  the 
engraving  inside,  for  instance.  The  engraving  forms  the 
cipher  of  the  house  of  Littimer.     If  Henson  has  the  real 


NEARING  THE    TRUTH-  %^^ 

ring,  if  we  can  find  it,  the  tragedy  goes  out  of  our  lives 
for  ever." 

"  I  should  like  to  hear  the  story,"  said  Steel. 

Enid  paused  and  lowered  the  lamp  as  a  step  was 
heard  outside.     But  it  was  only  Williams. 

"  Mr.  Henson  is  in  his  bedroom  still,"  he  said.  "  I've 
just  taken  him  the  cigars.  He's  got  a  lump  on  his  head 
as  big  as  a  billiard-ball.  Thinks  he  hit  it  against  a 
branch.  And  my  lady  have  locked  herself  ia  her  room 
and  refused  to  see  anybody." 

"  Go  and  look  at  our  patient,"  Enid  commanded. 

Wniiams  disappeared,  to  return  presently  with  the 
information  that  Van  Sneck  was  still  fast  asleep  and 
lying  very  peacefully. 

"  Looks  like  waiting  till  morning,  it  do,"  he  said. 
"  And  now  I'll  go  back  and  keep  my  eye  on  that  'ere 
distinguished  philanthropist." 

Williams  disappeared,  and  Enid  turned  up  the  lamp 
again.  Her  face  was  pale  and  resolute.  She  motioned 
David  towards  a  chair. 

"  I'll  tell  you  the  story,"  she  said.  "  I  am  going  to 
:onfide  in  you  the  saddest  and  strangest  tale  that  ever 
appealed  to  an  imaginative  novelist." 


CHAPTER    XLIV. 

ENID    SPEAKS. 

"  I  AM  going  to  tell  you  the  story  of  the  great  sorrow 
that  has  darkened  all  our  lives,  but  I  shall  have  to  go  a 
long  way  back  to  do  it,"  Enid  said.  "  I  go  back  to  the 
troublous  day  of  Charles,  as  far  back  as  the  disastrous 
fight  at  Naseby.  Of  course  I  am  speaking  more  from 
a  Royalist  point  of  view,  for  the  Littimers  were  always 
followers  of  the  Court. 

"  Mind  you,  there  is  doubtless  a  deal  that  is  legendary 
about  what  I  am  going  to  tell  you.  But  the  ring  given 
to  my  ancestor  Rupert  Littimer  by  Prince  Rupert 
himself  is  an  actuality. 

"  Naseby  was  over,  and,  so  the  legend  goes.  Prince 
Rupert  found  himself  desperately  situated  and  in  dire 
peril  of  capture  by  Cromwell's  troops,  under  one  Colonel 
Carfax,  a  near  neighbour  of  Rupert  Littimer  ;  indeed,  the 
Carfax  estates  still  run  paraUel  with  the  property  round 
Littimer  Castle. 

"  Now,  Carfax  was  hated  by  all  those  who  were 
attached  to  the  fortunes  of  the  King.  Seeing  that 
he  was  of  aristocratic  birth,  it  was  held  that  he  had 
violated  his  caste  and  creed  by  taking  sides  with  the 
Roundheads.  History  has  told  us  that  he  was  right, 
and  that  the  Cavaliers,  picturesque  as  they  were,  were 
fighting  a  dubious  cause.  But  I  need  not  go  into  that. 
Carfax  was  a  hard,  stern  man  who  sjjarcd  nobody,  and 
many  were  the  stories  told  of  his  cruelty. 

278 


ENID  SPEAKS.  979 

•*  He  and  Rupert  Littimer  were  especially  at  daggers 
drawn.  I  believe  that  both  of  them  had  been  in  love 
with  the  same  woman  or  something  of  that  kind.  And 
the  fact  that  she  did  not  marry  either  made  little  differ- 
ence to  the  bitterness  between  them. 

"  Well,  Carfax  was  pressing  close  on  Rupert,  so  close, 
indeed,  that  unless  some  strategy  were  adopted  the 
brilliant  cavalry  leader  was  in  dire  peril.  It  was  there 
that  my  ancestor,  Rupert  Littimer,  came  fonvard  with 
his  scheme.  He  offered  to  disguise  himself  and  go  into 
the  camp  of  Carfax  and  take  him  prisoner.  The  idea 
was  to  steal  into  the  tent  of  Carfax  and,  by  threatening 
him  with  his  hfe,  compel  him  to  issue  certain  orders,  the 
result  of  which  would  be  that  Prince  Rupert  could  get 
away. 

"  '  You  will  never  come  back  again,  friend,'  the 
Prince  said. 

"  Rupert  Littimer  said  he  was  prepared  to  run  all 
risk  of  that.  *  And  if  I  do  die  you  shall  tell  my  wife, 
sir,'  he  said.  '  And  when  the  child  is  bom,  tell  him 
that  his  father  died  as  he  should  have  done  for  his  King 
and  for  his  country.' 

"  '  Oh,  there  is  a  child  coming  ?  '  Rupert  asked. 

"  Littimer  replied  that  for  aught  he  knew  he  was  a 
father  already.  And  then  he  went  his  way  into  the 
camp  of  th»  foe  v^dth  his  curls  cut  short  and  in  the  guise 
of  a  countryu^an  who  comes  with  valuable  information. 
And,  what  is  more,  he  schemed  his  way  into  Carfax's 
tent,  and  at  the  point  of  a  dagger  compelled  him  to 
write  a  certain  order  which  my  ancestor's  servant,  who 
accompanied  him,  saw  carried  into  effect,  and  so  the 
passage  for  Prince  Rupert  was  made  free. 

"  The  ruse  would  have  succeeded  all  round  but  for 
some  little  accident  that  I  need  not  go  into  now.  Rupert 
Littimer  was  laid  by  the  heels,  his  disguise  was  torn  off, 
%nd  he  stood  face  to  face  with  his  hereditary  foe.  He 
was  told  that  he  had  but  an  hour  to  live. 

"  '  If  you  have  any  favour  to  ask,  say  it,'  Carfax  said. 

**  *  I  have  no  favour  to  ask,  properly  so-called,'  Littimer 
repUed  ;  '  but  I  am  loth  to  die  without  knowing  whether 
or  not  I  have  left  anybody  to  succeed  me — anybody 


38o  THE  CRIMSON    BLIND. 

who  will  avenge  the  crime  upon  yoa  and  yonrs  hi  the 
years  to  come.  Let  me  go  as  far  as  Henson  Grange, 
and  I  pledge  you  my  word  I  will  return  in  the  morning  !  ' 

"  But  Carfax  laughed  the  suggestion  to  scorn.  The 
Court  party  were  all  liars  and  perjurers,  and  their  word 
was  not  to  be  taken. 

"'  It  is  as  I  say,'  Rupert  Littimer  rep)eated.  *  My 
wife  lies  ill  at  Henson  Grange  and  in  sore  trouble 
about  me.  And  I  should  like  to  see  my  child  before 
I  die.' 

"  '  Then  you  shall  have  the  chance,'  Carfax  sneered. 
*  I  will  keep  you  a  close  prisoner  here  for  two  days,  and 
if  at  the  end  of  that  time  nothing  happens,  you  die. 
If,  on  the  other  hand,  a  child  is  bom  to  you,  then  you 
shall  go  from  here  a  free  man.' 

"  And  so  the  compact  was  made.  Unfortunately  or 
fortunately,  as  the  case  may  be,  the  story  got  abroad, 
and  some  indiscreet  person  carried  the  news  to  Dame 
Littimer.  Ill  as  she  was,  she  insisted  upon  getting  up 
and  going  over  to  Carfax's  camp  at  once.  She  had  barely 
reached  there  before — well,  long  ere  Rupert  Lit  timer's 
probation  was  over,  he  was  the  father  of  a  noble  boy. 
They  say  that  the  Roundheads  made  a  cradle  for  the 
child  out  of  a  leather  breastplate,  and  carried  it  in 
triumph  round  the  camp.  And  they  held  the  furious 
Carfax  to  his  word,  and  the  story  spread  ?nd  spread 
until  it  came  to  the  ears  of  Prince  Rupert 

"  Then  he  went  to  see  Dame  Littimer,  and  from  his 
own  hand  he  drew  what  is  known  in  our  family  as  Prince 
Rupert's  ring.  He  placed  it  on  Dame  Littimer's  hand, 
there  to  remain  for  a  year  and  a  day,  and  when  the  year 
was  up  it  was  to  be  put  aside  for  the  bride  of  the  heir 
of  the  house  for  ever,  to  be  worn  by  her  till  a  year  and  a 
day  had  elapsed  after  her  first  child  was  bom.  And 
that  has  been  done  for  all  time,  my  aunt,  Lady  Littimer, 
being  the  last  to  wear  it.  After  Frank  was  bom  it  was 
put  carefully  away  for  his  bride.  But  the  great  tragedy 
came,  and  until  lately  we  fancied  that  the  ring  was  lost 
to  us  for  ever.  There  is,  in  a  few  words,  the  story  cf 
Prince  Rupert's  ring.  So  far  it  is  quite  conunoo 
property." 


ENID    SPEAKS.  aSi 

Enid  cfased  to  speak  for  a  time.  But  it  was  evident 
that  she  had  more  to  say. 

"  An  interesting  story,"  David  said.  "  And  a  pretty 
one  to  put  into  a  book,  especially  as  it  is  quite  true. 
But  you  have  lost  the  ring,  you  say  ?  " 

"  I  fancied  so  till  to-night, '  Enid  replied.  "  Indeed, 
I  hardly  knew  what  to  think.  Sometimes  I  imagined 
that  Reginald  Henson  had  it,  at  other  times  I  imagined 
that  it  was  utterly  gone.  But  the  mere  fact  that  Henson 
possesses  a  copy  practically  convinces  me  that  he  has 
the  original.  As  I  said  before,  a  true  copy  could  not 
have  been  made  from  mere  instructions.  And  if  I 
could  only  get  the  original  our  troubles  are  all  over." 

"  But  I  don't  see  how  the  ring  has  anything  to  do 
with " 

"  With  the  family  dishonour.  No,  I  am  coming  to 
that.  We  arrive  at  the  time,  seven  years  ago,  when  my 
aunt  and  Lord  Littimer  and  Frank  were  all  living 
happily  at  Littimer  Castle.  I  told  j'ou  just  now  that 
the  Carfax  estates  adjoin  the  Littimer  property.  The 
family  is  still  extant  and  powerful,  but  the  feud  between 
the  two  houses  has  never  ceased.  Of  course,  people 
don't  carry  on  a  vendetta  these  peaceful  days,  but  the 
families  have  not  visited  for  centuries. 

"  There  was  a  daughter  Claire,  whom  Frank  Littimer 
got  to  know  by  some  means  or  other.  But  for  the  silly 
family  feud  nobody  would  have  noticed  or  cared,  and 
there  would  have  been  an  end  to  the  matter,  because 
Frank  has  always  loved  my  sister  Chris,  and  we  ail  knew 
that  he  would  marry  her  some  of  these  days. 

"  Lord  Littimer  was  furiously  angry  when  he  heard 
that  Frank  and  Claire  had  got  on  speaking  terms.  He 
imperiously  forbade  any  further  intercourse,  and  General 
Carfax  did  the  same.  The  consequence  was  that  these 
two  foolish  young  people  elected  to  fancy  themselves 
greatly  aggrieved,  and  so  a  kind  of  Romeo  and  Juhet, 
Montague  and  Capulet,  business  sprang  up.  There 
were  secret  meetings,  meetings  entirely  innocent,  I 
believe,  and  a  correspondence  which  became  romantic 
and  passionate  on  Claire  Carfax's  side.  The  girl  had 
fallen  passionately  in  love  with  Frank,  whilst  he  regarded 


i89  THE  CRIMSON   BLIND. 

the  thing  as  a  mere  pastime.  He  did  not  know  then^ 
indeed  nobody  seemed  to  know  till  afterwards,  that 
there  was  insanity  in  the  poor  girl's  family,  though 
Hatherly  Bell's  friend.  Dr.  Heritage,  who  then  had  a 
practice  near  Littimer,  warned  us  as  well  as  he  could. 
Nobody  dreamt  how  far  the  thing  had  gone. 

"  Then  those  letters  of  Claire's  fell  into  Lord  Littimei's 
hands.  He  found  them  and  locked  them  up  in  his  safe. 
Frank,  furious  at  being  treated  like  a  boy,  swore  to 
break  open  the  safe  and  get  his  letters  back.  He  did 
so.  And  in  the  same  safe,  and  in  the  same  drawer, 
was  Prince  Rupert's  ring.  W^en  Lord  Littimer  missed 
the  letters  he  missed  the  ring  also  and  a  large  sum  of 
money  in  notes  that  he  had  just  received  from  his 
tenants.  Frank  had  stolen  the  ring  and  the  money,  or 
so  it  seemed.     I  shall  not  soon  forget  that  day. 

"  After  taking  the  letters  Frank  had  gone  straight  to 
Moreton  Wells,  and  it  looked  for  a  little  time  as  if  he 
had  fled.  Within  an  hour  of  the  discovery  of  his  loss 
Lord  Littimer  met  Claire  Carfax  on  the  clififs.  She  was 
wearing  Prince  Rupert's  ring.  Frank  had  sent  it  to  her, 
she  said.  Anybody  but  a  man  in  a  furious  passion 
would  have  seen  that  the  girl  was  not  responsible  for 
her  actions.  Littimer  told  her  the  true  circumstances  of 
the  case.  She  laughed  at  him  in  a  queer,  vacant  way 
and  fled  through  the  woods.  She  went  down  to  the 
beach,  where  she  took  a  boat  and  rowed  herself  out  into 
the  bay.  A  mile  or  more  from  the  shore  she  jumped 
into  the  water,  and  from  that  day  to  this  nothing  further 
has  been  seen  of  poor  Claire  Carfax." 

"  Or  the  ring,  either  ?  "  David  asked. 

"  Or  the  ring  either.  The  same  night  Lady  Littimer 
started  aftor  her  boy.  Littimer  was  going  to  have 
Frank  prosecuted.  Lady  Littimer  fled  to  Longdean 
Grange,  where  Frank  joined  her.  Then  my  uncle 
tiirned  up,  and  there  was  a  scene.  It  is  said  that  Lord 
Littimer  struck  his  wife,  but  Frank  says  that  she  fell 
against  his  gesticulating  fist.  Anyway,  it  was  the  same 
as  a  blow,  and  Lady  Littimer  dropped  on  the  floor, 
dragging  a  table  down  with  her,  flowers  and  china  and 
alL     You  have  seen  that  table  in  Longdeaxi  Grange, 


ENID  SPEAKS.  283 

Since  then  it  has  never  been  touched,  the  place  has  never 
been  swept  or  dusted  or  garnished.  You  have  seen  my 
aunt,  and  you  know  what  the  shock  has  done  for  her — 
the  shock  and  the  steady  persecutions  of  Reginald 
Henson." 

"  Who  seems  to  be  at  the  bottom  of  the  whole  trouble," 
said  David.  "  But  do  you  think  that  was  the  real  ring 
on  the  poor  girl's  finger  ?  " 

"  I  don't.  I  fancy  Henson  had  a  copy  made  for 
emergencies.  It  was  he  who  sent  the  copy  to  Claire, 
and  it  was  the  copy  that  Littimer  saw  on  her  hand. 
You  see,  directly  Frank  broke  open  that  safe,  Henson, 
who  was  at  the  castle  at  the  time,  saw  his  opportunity — 
he  could  easily  scheme  some  way  of  making  use  of  it. 
If  that  plot  against  Frank  had  failed  he  would  have 
invented  another.  And  the  unexpected  suicide  of 
Claire  Carfax  pla5'ed  into  his  hands.  Henson  has  that 
ring  somewhere,  and  it  will  be  our  task  to  find  it." 

"  And  when  we  have  done  so  ?  " 

"  Give  it  to  Lord  Littimer  and  tell  him  where  we 
found  it.  And  then  we  shall  be  rid  of  one  of  the  most 
pestilential  rascals  the  world  has  ever  seen.  When  you 
get  back  to  Brighton  I  want  you  to  tell  this  story  to 
Hathcrly  Bell." 

"  I  will,"  David  replied.  "  What  a  weird,  fascinating 
story  it  is  !  And  the  sooner  I  am  back  the  better  I  shall 
be  pleased.  I  wonder  if  our  man  is  awake  yet.  If  you 
will  excuse  me,  I  will  go  up  and  see.     Ah  !  " 

There  was  the  sound  of  somebody  moving  overhead. 


CHAPTER   XLV. 

ON   THE   TRAIL. 

At  the  same  moment  Williams  came  softly  in.  There 
was  a  grin  of  satisfaction  on  his  face. 

"  The  brute  is  fast  asleep,"  he  said.  "  I've  just  been 
in  his  room.  He  left  the  lamp  burning,  and  there  is  a 
lump  on  the  side  of  his  head  as  big  as  an  ostrich  egg. 
But  he  didn't  mean  to  go  to  sleep  ;  he  hasn't  taken  any 
of  his  clothes  off.  On  the  whole,  sir,  wouldn't  it  be 
better  for  you  to  wake  our  man  up  and  get  him  away  ?  " 

David  was  of  the  same  opinion.  Van  Sneck  was 
lying  on  the  bed  looking  vacantly  about  him.  He  seemed 
older  and  more  worn,  perhaps,  because  his  beard  and 
moustache  were  growing  ragged  and  dirty  on  his  face. 
He  pressed  his  hand  to  his  head  in  a  confused  kind  of 
way. 

"I  tell  you  I  can't  find  it,"  he  said;  "the  thing 
slipped  out  of  my  hand — a  small  thing  like  that  easily 
might.  What's  the  good  of  making  a  fuss  about  a  ring 
not  worth  £20  ?  Search  my  pockets  if  you  like.  What 
a  murderous-looking  dog  you  are  when  you're  out  of 
temper  !  " 

All  this  in  a  vague,  rambling  way,  in  a  slightly  foreign 
accent.     David  touched  him  on  the  shoulder. 

"  Won't  you  come  back  with  me  to  Brighton  ?  ** 
he  said. 

"  Certainly,"  was  the  ready  response  ;  "  you  look  a 
good  sort  of  chap.    I'll  go  anywhere  you  please.    Not 

384 


ON  THE  TRAIL.  885 

that  I've  got  a  penny  of  money  left.  What  a  spree  it 
has  been.     Who  are  you  ?  " 

"  My  name  is  Steel.     I  am  David  Steel,  the  novelist." 

A  peculiarly  cunning  look  came  over  Van  Sneck's  face. 

"  I  got  your  letter,"  he  said.  "  And  I  came.  It  was 
after  I  had  had  that  row  with  Henson.  Henson  is  a 
bigger  scoundrel  than  I  am,  though  you  may  not  think  it." 

"  I  accept  your  statement  imphcitly, '  David  said, 
drily. 

"  Well,  he  is.  And  I  ^ot  your  letter.  And  I  caUed- 
.  .  .  And  you  nearly  killed  me.  And  I  dropped  it 
down  in  the  comer  of  the  conservatory." 

"  Dropped  what  ?  "  David  asked,  sharply. 

"  Nothing,"  said  Van  Sneok.  "  What  do  you  mean 
by  talking  about  dropping  things.  I  never  dropped 
anything  in  my  life.  I  make  others  do  that,  eh,  eh  I 
But  I  can't  remember  anything.  It  just  comes  back  to 
me,  and  then  there  is  a  wheel  goes  round  in  my  head.  .  .  . 
Who  are  you  ?  " 

David  gave  up  the  matter  as  hopeless.  This  was 
emphatically  a  case  for  Bell.  Once  let  him  get  Van 
Sneck  back  to  Brighton  and  Bell  could  do  the  rest. 

"  We'd  better  go,"  he  said  to  Enid.  "  We  are  merely 
wasting  time  here." 

"  I  suppose  so,"  Enid  said,  thoughtfully.  "  All  the 
same,  I  should  greatly  like  to  know  what  it  is  that  our 
friend  Van  Sneck  dropped." 

It  was  a  long  and  tedious  journey  back  to  Brighton 
again,  for  the  patient  seemed  to  tire  easily,  and  he 
evinced  a  marked  predilection  for  sitting  by  the  road- 
side and  singing.  It  was  very  late  before  David  reached 
his  house.  Bell  beamed  his  satisfaction.  Van  Sneck, 
with  a  half-gleam  of  recognition  of  his  surroundings, 
and  with  a  statement  that  he  had  been  there  before, 
lapsed  into  silence.  Bell  produced  a  small  phial  in  a 
chemist's  wrapper  and  poured  the  contents  into  a  glass. 
With  a  curt  command  to  drink  he  passed  the  glass  over 
to  Van  Sneck. 

The  latter  drank  the  small  dose,  and  Bell  carried  him 
more  or  less  to  a  ground  floor  bedroom  behind  the 
dining-room.    There  nc  speedily  undressed  his  patient 


286  THE   CRIMSON   BLIND. 

and  pot  him  into  bed.  Van  Sncck  was  practically  fast 
asleep  before  his  head  had  touched  the  pillow. 

"  I  went  out  and  got  that  dose  with  a  view  to  even- 
tualities," Bell  explained.  "  I  know  pretty  well  what 
is  the  matter  with  Van  Sneck,  and  I  propose  to  operate 
upon  him,  with  the  help  of  Heritage.  I've  put  him  in 
my  bed  and  locked  the  door.  I  shall  sleep  in  the  big 
armchair." 

David  flung  himself  into  a  big  deck  lounge  and  lighted 
a  cigarette. 

"  My  word,  that  has  been  a  bit  of  a  business,"  he  said. 
"  Pour  me  out  a  little  whisky  in  one  of  the  long  glasses 
and  fill  it  up  with  soda.  .  .  .  Oh,  that's  better.  I  never 
felt  so  thirsty  in  my  life.  I  got  Van  Sneck  away  without 
Henson  having  the  slightest  suspicion  that  he  was  there, 
and  I  had  the  satisfaction  of  giving  Henson  a  smashing 
blow  without  his  seeing  me." 

"  Sounds  like  conjuring,"  Bell  said,  behind  his  cigar. 
"  Explain  yourself." 

David  went  carefully  into  details.  He  told  the  story 
of  Prince  Rupert's  ring  to  a  listener  who  followed  him 
with  the  most  flattering  attention. 

"  Of  course,  all  this  is  new  to  me,"  Bell  said,  presently, 
"  though  I  knew  the  family  well  up  to  that  time.  Depend 
ujK)n  it,  Enid  is  right.  Henson  has  got  the  ring.  But 
how  fortunately  everything  seems  to  have  turned  out 
for  the  scoundrel." 

"  If  a  man  likes  to  be  an  unscrupulous  blackguard  he 
can  make  use  of  all  events,"  David  said.  "  B'u  even 
Henson  is  not  quite  so  clever  as  we  take  him  to  be. 
He  has  found  out  the  trick  we  played  upon  him  over 
Chris  Henson,  but  he  hasn't  the  faintest  idea  that  all 
this  time  he  has  been  living  under  the  same  roof  at 
Littimer." 

"  The  girl  is  a  wonderful  actress,"  Bell  replied.  "  I 
only  guessed  who  she  was.  If  I  hadn't  known  as  much 
as  I  do  she  would  have  deceived  me.  But  Henson  has 
shot  his  bolt.  After  we  have  operated  upon  Van  Sneck 
we  shall  be  pretty  near  the  truth.  It  is  a  great  pull  to 
have  him  in  the  house." 

"  Aad  a  nasty  thing  for  H«DSoa ** 


ON  THE  TRAIL  287 

"  Who  will  find  out  before  to-morrow  is  over.     I  feel 

pretty  sure  that  this  house  is  watched  carefully.  Any 
firm  of  private  detectives  would  do  that,  and  they  need 
be  told  nothing  either.  I  know  that  I  was  followed  when 
I  went  to  the  chemist's  to  fetch  that  dose  for  our  friend 
yonder.  Still,  it  is  a  sign  that  Henson  is  getting 
frightened." 

"  Why  do  you  bring  Heritage  into  this  matter  ? " 
David  asked. 

"  Well,  for  a  variety  of  reasons.  First  of  all,  Heritage 
is  an  old  friend  of  mine,  and  I  take  a  great  interest  in 
his  case.  I  am  going  to  give  him  a  chance  to  recover 
his  lost  confidence,  and  he  is  a  splendid  operator.  Besides, 
I  want  to  know  why  Henson  has  gone  out  of  his  way  to 
be  so  kind  to  Heritage.  And,  finally.  Heritage  was  the 
family  doctor  of  the  Carfax  people  you  just  mentioned 
before  he  went  to  practise  in  London.  Let  me  once  get 
Heritage  round  again,  and  I  shall  be  greatly  disappointed 
if  he  does  not  give  us  a  good  deal  of  valuable  information 
regarding  Reginald  Henson." 

"  And  Cross.     What  about  him  ?  " 

"  Oh,  Cross  will  do  as  I  ask  him.  Without  egotism, 
he  knows  that  the  case  is  perfectly  safe  in  my  hands. 
And  if  we  care  to  look  after  Van  Sneck,  why,  there  will 
be  one  the  less  burden  in  the  hospital.  What  a  funny 
business  it  is  !  Van  Sneck  gets  nearly  done  to  death 
under  this  roof,  and  he  comes  back  here  to  be  cured 
agnin." 

David  yawned  sleepily  as  he  rose. 

"  Well,  I've  had  enough  of  it  for  to-night,"  he 
said.  "  I'm  dog-tried,  and  I  must  confess  to  feeling 
sick  of  the  Hensons  and  Littimers,  and  all  their 
works." 

"  Including  their  friend,  Miss  Ruth  Gates  ?  "  Bell  said, 
slily.  "  Still,  they  have  made  pretty  good  use  of  you, 
and  I  expect  you  will  be  glad  to  get  back  to  your  work 
again.  At  the  same  time,  you  need  not  trouble  your 
head  for  plots  for  many  a  day." 

David  admitted  that  the  situation  had  its  compensa- 
tions, and  went  off  to  bed.  Bfll  mot  him  the  next  day 
as  fresh  as  if  he  had  had  a  full  night's  rest,  and  vouch- 


288  THE  CRIMSON   BLIND* 

safed  the  information  that  the  patient  was  as  well  ai 
possible.     He  was  cold  and  no  longer  feverish. 

"  In  fact,  he  is  ready  for  the  operation  at  any  time/* 
he  said.  "  I  shall  get  Heritage  here  to  dinner,  and  we 
shall  operate  afterwards  with  electric  light.  It  will  be 
a  good  steadier  for  Heritage's  nerves,  and  the  electric 
light  is  the  best  light  of  all  for  this  business.  If  you  have 
got  a  few  yards  of  spare  flex  from  your  reading-lamp 
I'll  rig  the  thing  up  without  troubling  your  electrician. 
I  can  attach  it  to  your  study  lamp." 

"  I've  got  what  you  want,"  David  said.  "  Now 
come  in  to  breakfast." 

There  was  a  pile  of  letters  on  the  table,  and  on  the 
top  a  telegram.  It  was  a  long  message,  and  Bell  watched 
Steel's  face  curiously. 

"  From  Littimer  Castle,"  he  suggested-  "  Am  I 
right  ?  " 

"  As  usual,"  David  cried.  "  My  Uttle  scheme  over 
that  diamond  star  has  worked  magnificently.  Miss 
Chris  tells  me  that  she  has — by  Jove,  Bell,  just  listen — 
she  has  solved  the  problem  of  the  cigar-case  ;  she  has 
found  out  the  whole  thing.  She  wants  me  to  meet  her 
in  London  to-morrow,  when  she  will  tdl  me  everything." 


CHAPTER   XLVI. 

LrrriMER's  eyes  are  opened. 

LotO  LiTTiMER  sat  on  the  terrace,  shaded  from  the  sun 
by  an  awning  over  his  deck-chair.  From  his  expression 
he  seemed  to  be  at  peace  with  all  the  world.  His  brown, 
eager  face  had  lost  its  usually  keen,  suspicious  look  ;  he 
smoked  a  cigarette  lazily.  Chris  sat  opposite  him 
looking  as  little  hke  a  hard-working  secretary  as  possible. 

As  a  matter  of  fact,  there  was  nothing  for  her  to  do. 
Littimer  had  already  tired  of  his  lady  secretary  idea, 
and  had  Chris  not  interested  and  amused  him  he  would 
have  found  some  means  to  get  rid  of  her  before  now. 

But  she  did  interest  and  amuse  and  puzzle  him. 
There  was  something  charmingly  reminiscent  about  the 
girl.  She  was  Uke  somebody  he  had  once  known  and 
cared  for,  but  for  the  life  of  ham  he  could  not  think  who. 
And  when  curiosity  sometimes  got  the  better  of  good 
breeding  Chris  would  bafiBe  him  in  the  most  engaging 
manner. 

"  Really,  yon  are  an  exceedingly  clever  girl,"  he  said. 

"  In  fact,  we  are  both  exceedingly  clever,"  Chris 
replied,  coolly.  "  And  yet  nobody  is  ever  quite  so 
clever  as  he  imagines  iiimself  to  be.  Do  you  ever  make 
bad  mistakes.  Lord  Littimer  ?  " 

"  Sometimes,"  Littimer  said,  with  a  touch  of  cynical 
humour.  "  For  instance,  I  married  some  years  ago. 
That  was  bad.     Then  I  had  a  son,  which  was  worse." 

"  At  one  time  you  were  fond  of  your  family  ?  " 

«89  T 


a90  THE  CRIMSON   BLIND. 

"  Well,  upon  my  word,  you  are  the  oply  creature  I 
ever  met  who  has  had  the  audacity  to  ask  me  that 
question.  Yes,  I  was  very  foiid  of  my  wi'e  and  my  son, 
and,  God  help  me,  I  am  fond  of  them  still.  I  don't 
know  why  I  talk  to  you  like  this." 

"  I  do,"  Chris  said,  gently.  "  It  is  because  uncon- 
sciously you  yearn  for  sympathy.  And  you  fancy  you 
are  in  no  way  to  blame  ;  you  imagine  that  you  acted 
in  the  only  way  consistent  with  your  position  and  dignity. 
You  fancied  that  your  son  was  a  vulgar  thief.  And  I 
am  under  the  impression  that  Lady  Littimer  had  money." 

"  She  had  a  large  fortune,"  Littimer  said,  faintly. 
"  Miss  Lee,  do  you  know  that  I  have  a  great  mind  to 
box  your  ears  ?  " 

Chris  laughed  unsteadily.  She  was  horribly  frightened, 
though  she  did  not  show  it.  She  had  been  waiting  for 
days  to  catch  Littimer  in  this  mood.  And  she  did  not 
feel  disposed  to  go  back  now.  The  t  k  must  be  accom- 
phshed  some  time. 

"  Lady  Littimer  was  very  rich,"  she  went  on,  "  an  1 
she  was  devoted  to  Frank,  your  son.  Now,  il  he  had 
wanted  a  large  sum  of  money  very  badly,  and  had  gone 
to  his  mother,  she  would  have  given  it  to  him  without 
the  slightest  hesitation  ?  " 

'•  Wliat  fond  mother  wouldn't  ?  " 

"  I  am  obliged  to  you  for  conceding  the  point.  Your 
son  wanted  money,  and  he  robbed  you  when  he  could 
have  had  anything  for  the  asking  from  his  mother." 

"  Sounds  logical,"  Littimer  said,  flippantly.  "  Who 
bad  the  money  ?  " 

"  The  same  man  who  stole  Prince  Rupert's  ring — 
Reginald  Henson." 

Littimer  dropped  his  cigarette  and  sat  upright  in 
his  chair.  He  was  keen  and  alert  enough  now.  There 
were  traces  of  agitation  on  his  face. 

"  That  is  a  serious  accusation,"  he  said. 

"  Not  more  serious  than  your  accusation  against  your 
8on,"  Chris  retorted. 

"  Well,  perhaps  not,"  Littimer  admitted.  "  But  why 
do  you  take  up  Frank's  cause  in  this  way  ?  Is  there 
any  romance  budding  under  my  unconscious  eyes  ?  " 


LITTIMER'S  EYES  ARE  OPENED.        agi 

•*  Now  you  are  talking  nonsense,"  Chris  said,  with 
Just  a  touch  of  colour  in  her  cheeks.  "  I  sa}^  and  I  am 
going  to  prove  when  the  time  comes,  that  Reginald 
Henson  was  the  thief.  I  am  sorry  to  pain  you,  but  it  is 
absolutely  necessary  to  go  into  these  matters.  When 
those  foolish  letters,  written  by  a  foolish  girl,  fell  into 
your  hands,  your  son  vowed  that  he  would  get  them  back, 
by  force  if  necessary.  He  made  that  rash  speech  in 
h;aring  of  Reginald  Henson.  Henson  probably  lurked 
about  until  he  saw  the  robbery  committed.  Then  it 
occurred  to  him  that  he  might  do  a  little  robbery  on  his 
own  account,  seeing  that  your  son  would  get  the  credit 
of  it.  The  safe  was  open,  and  so  he  walked  off  with  your 
ring  and  your  money." 

"  My  dear  young  lady,  this  is  all  mere  surmise." 

"  So  you  imagine.  At  that  time  Reginald  Henson 
had  a  kind  of  home  which  he  was  running  at  218,  Bruns- 
wick Square,  Brighton.  Lady  Littimer  had  just  re- 
linquished a  similar  undertaking  there.  Previously 
Reginald  Henson  had  a  home  at  Huddersfield.  Mind 
you,  he  didn't  run  either  in  his  own  name,  and  he  kept 
studiously  in  the  background.  But  he  was  desperately 
hard  up  at  the  time  in  consequence  of  his  dissipation 
and  extravagance,  and  the  money  he  collected  for  his 
home  went  into  his  own  pocket.  Then  the  police  got 
wind  of  the  matter,  and  Reginald  Henson  discreetly 
disappeared  from  Brighton  just  in  time  to  save  himself 
from  arrest  for  frauds  there  and  at  Huddersfield.  A 
member  of  the  Huddersfield  police  is  in  a  high  position 
at  Brighton.  He  has  recognised  Reginald  Henson  as 
the  man  who  was  '  wanted '  at  Huddersfield.  I  don't 
know  if  there  will  be  a  prosecution  after  all  these  years, 
but  there  you  are." 

"  You  are  speaking  from  authority  ?  " 

"  Certainly  I  am.  Reginald  Henson,  as  such,  is  not 
known  to  Insj)cctor  Marlcy,  but  I  sent  the  latter  a 
photograph  of  Henson,  and  he  returned  it  this  morning 
with  a  letter  to  the  effect  that  it  was  the  man  the  Hudders- 
field police  were  lookinc;  for." 

"  VVhat  an  interesting  girl  you  are,"  Littimer 
murmured.     "  Always     so     full      of      surprises.      Our 


292  THE  CRIMSON   BLIND. 

dear  Reginald  is  even  a  greater  rascal  than  I  took 
him  for." 

"  Well,  he  took  your  money,  and  that  saved  him. 
He  took  your  ring,  a  facsimile  of  which  he  had  made 
before  for  some  ingenious  purpose.  It  came  with  a 
vengeance.  Then  Claire  Carfax  committed  suicide, 
thanks  to  your  indiscretion  and  folly." 

"  Go  on.  Rub  it  in.  Never  mind  about  my 
feelings." 

"  I'm  not  minding."  Chris  said,  coolly.  "  Henson 
saw  his  game  and  played  it  boldly.  I  could  not  have 
told  you  all  this  yesterday,  but  a  letter  I  had  this  morning 
cleared  the  ground  wonderfully.  Henson  wanted  to 
cause  family  differences,  and  he  succeeded.  Previously 
he  got  Dr.  Bell  out  of  the  way  by  means  of  the  second 
Rembrandt.  You  can't  deny  there  is  a  second  Rem- 
brandt now,  seeing  that  it  is  locked  up  in  your  safe. 
And  where  do  you  think  Bell  found  it  ?  Wliy,  at  218, 
Brunswick  Square,  Brighton,  where  Henson  had  to 
leave  it  seven  years  ago  when  the  police  were  so  hot 
upon  his  trail.  He  was  fearful  lest  you  and  Bell  should 
come  together  again,  and  that  is  why  he  came  here  at 
night  to  steal  your  Rembrandt.  And  yet  you  trusted 
that  man  blindly  all  the  time  your  own  son  was 
suffering  on  mere  suspicions.  How  blind  you  have 
been  !  " 

"  I'm  blind  still,"  Littimer  said,  curtly.  "  My  dear 
young  lady,  I  admit  that  you  are  making  out  a  pretty 
strong  case  ;  indeed,  I  might  go  farther,  and  say  that 
you  have  all  my  sympathy.  But  what  you  say  would 
not  be  taken  as  evidence  in  a  court  of  law.  If  you  pro- 
duce that  ring,  for  instance — but  that  is  at  the  bottom 
of  the  North  Sea." 

Chris  took  a  small  cardboard  box  from  her  pocket, 
and  from  thence  produced  a  ring.  It  was  a  ruby  ring 
with  black  pearls  on  either  side,  and  had  some  inscrip- 
tion inside. 

"  Look  at  that,"  she  said.  "  It  was  sent  to  me  to-day 
by  my — by  a  friend  of  mine.  It  is  the  ring  which 
Reginald  Henson  shows  to  Lady  Littimer  when  he  wants 
money  from  her.     It  was  lost  by  Henson  a  night  or  tw« 


LITTIMER'S  EYES  ARE   OPENED.        293 

ago,  and  it  fell  into  the  hands  of  someone  who  is  in- 
terested, like  myself,  in  the  exposure  and  disgrace  of 
Reginald  Henson." 

Littimer  examined  the  ring  carefully. 

"  It  is  a  wonderfully  good  imitation,"  he  said, 
presently. 

"  So  I  am  told,"  said  Chris.  "  So  good  that  it  mu5t 
have  actually  been  copied  from  the  original.  Now, 
how  could  Henson  have  had  a  copy  made  unless  he 
possessed  the  original  ?  Will  you  be  good  enough  to 
answer  me  that  question,  Lord  Littimer  ?  " 

Littimer  could  do  no  more  than  gaze  at  the  ring  in 
his  hand  for  some  time. 

"  I  could  have  sworn — indeed,  I  am  ready  to  swear — 
that  the  real  ring  was  never  in  anybody's  possession 
but  mine  from  the  day  that  Frank  was  a  year  old  till 
it  disappeared.  Of  course,  scores  of  people  had  looked 
at  it,  Henson  amongst  the  rest.  But  how  did  Claire 
Carfax " 

"  EasUy  enough.  Henson  had  a  first  copy  made  from 
a  description.  I  don't  know  why  ;  probably  we  shall 
never  know  why.  Probably  he  had  it  done  when  he 
knew  that  your  son  and  Miss  Carfax  had  struck  up  a 
flirtation.  It  was  he  who  forged  a  letter  from  Frank 
to  Miss  Carfax,  enclosing  the  ring.  By  that  means  he 
hoped  to  create  mischief  which,  if  it  had  been  nipped 
in  the  bud,  could  never  have  been  traced  to  him.  As 
matters  turned  out  he  succeeded  beyond  his  wildest 
expectations.  He  had  got  the  real  ring,  too,  which  was 
likely  to  prove  a  very  useful  thing  in  case  he  ever  wanted 
to  make  terms.  A  second  and  a  faithful  copy  was 
made — the  copy  you  hold  in  your  hands — to  hold 
temptingly  over  Lady  Littimer's  head  when  he  wanted 
large  sums  of  money  from  her." 

The  scoundrel!     He  gets  the  money,  of  course  ?" 

"  He  does.  To  my  certain  knowkdi;e  he  has  had 
nearly  £70,000.  But  the  case  is  in  good  hands.  You 
have  only  to  wait  a  few  days  longer  and  the  man  will 
be  exposed.  Already,  as  you  see,  I  have  wound  his 
accomplice,  the  Reverend  James  Merritt,  round  my 
finger.     Of  course,  the  idea  of  getting  up  a  bazaar  haa 


294  THE  CRIMSON  BLIND- 

all  been  nonsense.  I  am  only  waiting  for  a  little  further 
information,  and  then  Merritt  will  feel  the  iron  hand 
under  the  velvet  glove.  Unless  I  am  greatly  mistaken, 
Merritt  can  tell  us  where  Prince  Rupert's  ring  is.  Alreaciy 
Van  Sncck  is  in  our  grasp." 

"  Van  Sneck  !     Is  he  in  England  ?  " 

"  He  is.  Did  you  read  that  strange  case  of  a  nmn 
being  found  half  murdered  in  the  conservatory  ol  Mr. 
Steel,  the  novelist,  in  Brighton  ?  Well,  that  was  \'an 
Sneck.  But  I  can't  tell  you  any  more  at  present.  You 
must  wait  and  be  content." 

"  Tell  me  one  thing,  and  I  will  wait  as  long  as  yoa 
like.     Who  are  you  ?  " 

Chris  shook  her  head,  merrily.  A  great  relief  had 
been  taken  off  her  mind.  She  had  approached  a  delicate 
and  difficult  matter,  and  she  had  succeeded  beyond  her 
expectations.  That  she  had  shaken  the  man  opposite 
her  sorely  was  evident  from  his  face.  The  hardness 
had  gone  from  his  eyes,  his  lips  were  no  longer  bitter 
and  cynical. 

"  I  may  have  been  guilty  of  a  great  wrong,"  he  mur- 
mured. "  All  these  years  I  may  have  been  living  under 
a  misapprehension.  And  you  have  told  me  what  I 
should  never  have  suspected,  although  I  have  never  had 
a  high  opinion  of  my  dear  Reginald.  Where  is  my  wife 
now  ?  " 

"  She  is  still  at  Longdean  Grange.  You  will  notice 
a  great  change  in  her,  a  great  and  sorrowful  change* 
But  it  is  not  too  late  to " 

Littimer  rose  and  went  swiftly  towards  the  houses 
At  any  other  time  the  action  would  have  been  rude, 
but  Chris  fully  understood.  She  had  touched  the  man 
to  the  bottom  of  his  soul,  and  he  was  anxious  to  iiide 
his  emotion. 

"  Poor  man,"  Chris  murmured.  "  His  hard  cynicism 
onceals  a  deal  of  suffering.  But  the  suffering  is  past ; 
we  have  only  to  wait  patiently  for  daylight  now." 

Chris  rose  restlessly  in  her  turn  and  strolled  alonj 
the  terrace  to  her  favourite  spot  lookin;:;  over  the  cliffs. 
There  was  nobody  about ;  it  was  very  hot  there.  The 
gill  removed  her  glasses  and  pushed  back  the  banded 


LITTIMER'S  EYES   ARE  OPENED.        293 

hair  from  her  forehead.  She  had  drawn  a  photograph 
from  her  pocket  which  she  was  regarding  intently. 
She  was  quite  heedless  of  the  fact  that  somebody  was 
coming  along  the  cliffs  towards  her.  She  raised  the 
photograph  to  her  lips  and  kissed  it  tenderly. 

"  Poor  Frank,"  she  murmured.  "  Poor  fellow,  so 
weak  and  amiable.     And  yet  with  all  your  faults " 

Chris  paused,  and  a  little  cry  escaped  her  lips.  Frank 
Littimer,  looking  very  wild  and  haggard,  stood  before  her. 

"  I  beg  your  pardon,"  he  began.  "  I  came  to  see 
you  because " 

The  words  died  away.  He  staggered  back,  pale  as 
the  foam  beating  on  the  rocks  below,  his  hand  clutching 
at  his  left  side  as  if  there  was  some  mortal  pain  there. 

"  Chris,"  he  murmured.  "  Chris,  Chris,  Chris  !  And 
they  told  me " 

He  could  say  no  more,  he  could  only  stand  there 
trembling  from  head  to  foot,  fearful  lest  his  mocking 
senses  were  making  sport  of  him.  Surely,  it  was  some 
beautiful  vision  he  had  come  upon.  With  one  unsteady 
hand  he  touched  the  girl's  sleeve  ;  he  pressed  her  warm 
red  cheeks  with  his  fingers,  and  with  that  touch  his 
manhood  came  back  to  him. 

"  Darling,"  he  whispered,  eagerly.  "  Dearest,  what 
does  it  mean  ?  " 

Chris  stood  there,  smiling  rosily.  She  had  not  meant 
to  betray  herself ;  fate  had  done  that  for  her,  and  she 
was  not  sorry.  It  was  a  cruel  trick  they  had  pJayed 
upon  Frank,  but  it  had  been  necessary.  Chris  held  out 
her  hand  with  a  loving  little  gesture. 

"  Are  you  not  going  to  kiss  me,  dear  ?  "  she  asked, 
sweetly. 

Frank  Littimer  needed  no  further  invitation.  It  was 
quiet  and  secluded  there,  and  nobody  could  possibly 
see  them.  With  a  little  sigh  Chris  felt  her  lover's  arms 
about  her  and  his  kisses  warm  on  her  lips.  The  clever, 
brilliant  girl  had  disappeared  ;  a  pretty,  timid  creature 
stood  in  lier  place  for  the  time.  For  the  moment  Frank 
Littimer  could  do  no  more  than  gaze  into  her  eyes  with 
rapture  and  amazement.  There  was  plenty  of  time 
(or  explanations. 


a96  THE  CRIMSON   BLINIX 

"  Let  us  go  into  the  arbonr,"  Frank  suggested.  **  No, 
I  am  not  going  to  release  your  hand  for  a  moment,  II 
I  do  you  will  fly  away  again.  Chris,  dear  Chris,  why  did 
you  serve  me  so  ?  " 

"  It  was  absolutely  necessary,"  Chris  repUed.  "  It 
was  necessary  to  deceive  Reginald  Hanson.  But  it  wa* 
hard  work  the  other  night." 

"  You  mean  when  I  came  here  and " 

"  Tried  to  steal  the  Rembrandt.  Oh,  you  needn't 
explain.  I  know  that  you  had  to  come.  And  we  have 
Hanson  in  our  power  at  last." 

"  I  am  afraid  that  is  too  good  to  be  true.  But  tell 
me  everything  from  the  beginning.  I  am  as  dazed 
and  confused  as  a  tired  man  roused  out  of  a  sound 
sleep." 

Chris  proceeded  to  explain  from  the  beginning  of  all 
things.  It  was  an  exceedingly  interesting  and  exciting 
nanative  to  Frank  Littimer,  and  he  followed  it  carefully. 
He  would  have  remained  there  all  day  listening  to  the 
music  of  Chris's  voice  and  looking  into  her  eyes.  He  had 
come  there  miserable  and  downcast  to  ask  a  question, 
and  behold  he  had  suddenly  found  all  the  joy  and  sweet- 
ness of  existence. 

"  And  so  you  have  accomplished  all  this  ?  "  he  said, 
at  length.  "  What  a  glorious  adventure  it  must  have 
been,  and  how  clever  you  are  !  So  is  Mr.  David  Steel. 
Many  a  time  I  have  tried  to  break  through  the  shackles, 
but  Reginald  has  always  been  too  strong  for  me." 

"  Well,  he's  shot  his  bolt,  now,"  Chris  smiled.  "  1 
have  just  been  opening  your  father's  eyes." 

Frank  laughed  as  he  had  not  laughed  for  a  long  time. 

"  Do  you  mean  to  say  he  doesn't  know  who  you  are  ?  ** 
he  asked. 

"  My  dear  boy,  he  hasn't  the  faintest  idea.  Neither 
had  you  the  faintest  idea  when  I  made  you  a  prisoner 
the  other  night.     But  he  will  know  soon." 

"  God  grant  that  he  may,"  Frank  said,  fervently. 

He  bent  over  and  pressed  his  lips  passionately  to 
those  of  Chris.  When  he  looked  up  again  Lord  Littimer 
was  standing  before  the  arbour,  wearing  his  most  cynical 
expression. 


"  Chris,  dear,  whv  JiJ  \  ou  serve  mc  so? 


—  Pcge  2^6. 


Thf  Crimitn  Blind. 


LITTIMER'S  EYES  ARE  OPENED.         297 

**  He  does  know,"  he  said.  "  My  dear  young  lady, 
yv.  need  not  move.  The  expression  of  sweet  confusion 
on  your  face  is  infinitely  pleasing.  I  did  not  imagine 
that  one  so  perfectly  self-possessed  could  look  like  that. 
It  gives  me  quite  a  nice  sense  of  superiority.  And  you, 
sir?" 

The  last  words  were  uttered  a  little  sternly.  Frank 
had  risen.  His  face  was  pale,  his  manner  resolute  and 
respectful. 

"  I  came  here  to  ask  Miss  Lee  a  question,  sir,  not 
knowing,  of  course,  who  she  was." 

"  And  she  betrayed  herself,  eh  ?  " 

"  I  am  sorry  if  I  have  done  so,"  Chris  said,  **  but  I 
should  not  have  done  so  unless  I  had  been  taken  by 
surprise.  It  was  so  hot  that  I  had  taken  off  my  glasses 
and  put  my  hair  up.  Then  Frank  came  up  and  surprised 
me.' 

"  You  have  grown  an  exceedingly  pretty  girl,  Chris," 
Littimer  said,  critically.  "  Of  course,  I  recognise  yoa 
now.     You  are  nicer-looking  than  Miss  Lee." 

Chris  put  on  her  glasses  and  rolled  her  hair  down 
resolutely. 

'*  You  will  be  good  enough  to  understand  that  I 
am  going  to  continue  Miss  Lee  for  the  present," 
she  said.  "  My  task  is  a  long  way  from  being  finished 
yet.  Lord  Littimer,  you  are  not  going  to  send 
Frank  away  ?  " 

Littimer  looked  undecided. 

"  I  don't  know,"  he  said.  "  Frank,  I  have  heard  a 
great  deal  to-day  to  cause  me  to  think  that  I  might  have 
done  you  a  grave  injustice.  And  yet  I  am  not  sure.  .  .  , 
In  any  case,  it  would  be  bad  policy  for  you  to  remain 
here.  If  the  news  came  to  the  ears  of  Reginald  Heixson 
it  might  upset  Miss  Machiavelli's  plans." 

"  That  had   not  occurred   to   me  for  the   moment,' 
Chris  exclaimed.     "  On  the  whole,  Frank  had  better  not 
stay.     But  I  should  dearly  like  to  see  you  two  shake 
hands." 

Frank  Littimer  made  an  involuntary  gesture,  and 
then  he  drew  back. 

"  I'd— I'd  rather  not,"  be  said.     "  At  least,  not  until 


298  THE  CRIMSON   BLIND. 

my  character  has  been  fully  vindicated.     Heaven  knows 
I  have  suffered  enough  for  a  boyish  indiscretion." 

"  And  you  have  youth  on  your  side,"  Littimer  said 
gravely.     "  Whereas  I " 

"  I  know,  I  know.  It  has  been  terrible  all  round- 
I  took  those  letters  of  poor  C  aire's  away  because  they 
were  sacred  property,  and  for  no  eye  but  mine " 

"  No  eye  but  yours  saw  them.  I  was  going  to  send 
them  back  again.     I  wi?h  I  had." 

"  Aye,  so  do  I.  I  took  them  and  destroyed  them. 
But  I  take  Heaven  to  witness  that  I  touched  nothing 
else  besides.  If  it  was  the  last  word  I  ever  uttered — 
what  is  that  fellow  doing  here  in  that  garb  ?  It  is  one 
of  Henson's  most  disreputable  tools." 

Merritt  was  coming  across  the  terrace.  He  paused 
suspiciously  as  he  caught  sight  of  Frank,  but  Chris, 
with  a  friendly  wave  of  her  hand,  encouraged  him  to 
come  on. 

"  It  is  all  part  of  the  game,"  she  said.  "  I  sent  for 
our  friend  Merritt,  but  when  I  did  so  I  had  no  idea  that 
Frank  would  be  present.  Since  you  are  here  you  might 
just  as  well  stay  and  hear  a  little  more  of  the  strange 
doings  of  Reginald  Henson.  The  time  has  come  to  let 
Merritt  know  that  I  am  not  the  clever  lady  burglar  he 
takes  me  for." 

Merritt  came  up  doggedly.  Evidently  the  presence 
of  Frank  Littimer  disturbed  him.  Chris  motioned  him 
to  a  seat,  quite  gaily. 

"  Yoxi  are  very  punctual,"  she  said.  "  I  tojd  you 
I  wanted  you  to  give  Lord  Littimer  and  myself  a  little 
advice  and  assistance.  In  the  first  place  we  want  to 
know  where  that  gun-motal  diamond-mounted  cigar- 
case,  at  present  for  sale  in  Rutter's  window,  came  from. 
We  want  to  know  how  it  got  there  and  who  sold 
it  to  Rutter's  people.  Also  we  want  to  know  why 
Van  Sneck  purchased  a  similar  cigar-case  from  Walen's, 
of  Brighton.' 

Merritt's  heavy  jaw  dropped,  his  face  ttirned  a  dull 
yellow.  He  looked  round  helplessly  for  some  means  of 
cscai)e,  and  then  relinquished  the  idea  with  a  sigh. 

"  Done,"  be  saifl.     "  Clear  done.     And  by  a  woman, 


LITTIMER'S  EYES  ARE  OPENED.        29s 

too ! .  A  smart  woman,  I  admit,  but  a  woman  all  the 
same.     And  yet  why  didn't  you " 

Merritt  paused,  lost  in  the  contemplation  of  a  problem 
beyond  his  intellectual  strength. 

"  You  have  nothing  to  fear,"  Chris  said,  with  a  smile. 
"  Tell  us  all  you  know  and  conceal  nothing,  and  yoa 
will  be  free  when  we  have  done  with  you." 

Merritt  wiped  his  dry  lips  with  the  back  of  his  hand. 

"  I  come  peaceable,"  he  said,  hoarsely.  "  And  I'm 
going  to  tell  you  all  about  it." 


CHAPTER   XLVIL 

THE     TRACK     BROADEN*. 

There  was  an  uneasy  grin  on  Merritt's  face,  a  suggestioa 
that  he  did  not  altogether  trust  those  around  him. 
Hard  experience  in  the  ways  of  the  wicked  had  taught 
hiin  the  folly  of  putting  his  confidence  in  anyone.  Just 
for  the  moment  the  impulse  to  shuffle  was  upon  him. 

"  If  I  say  nothing,  then  I  can't  do  any  harm,"  he 
remarked,  sapiently.  "  Best,  on  the  whole,  for  me  to 
keep  my  tongue  between  my  teeth." 

"  Mr.  Henson  is  a  dangerous  man  to  cross,"  Chris 
suggested. 

'  He  is  that,"  Merritt  agreed.  "  You  don't  know 
him  as  I  do." 

Chris  conceded  the  point,  though  she  had  her  own 
views  on  that  matter.  Lord  Lit  tinier  had  seated  himself 
on  the  broad  stone  bench  along  the  terrace,  whence  he 
was  watching  the  scene  with  the  greatest  zest  and 
interest. 

"  You  imagine  Mr.  Henson  to  be  a  friend  of  yours  ?  " 
Chris  asked. 

Mf^rritt  nodded  and  grinned.  So  long  as  he  was 
useful  to  Henson  he  was  fairly  safe. 

"  Mr.  Merritt,"  Chris  asked,  suddenly,  "  have  you 
ever  heard  of  Reuben  Taylor  ?  " 

The  effect  of  the  question  was  electrical.  Merritt's 
square  jaw  dropped  with  a  click,  there  was  fear  in  tho 
furtive  eyes  that  he  cast  around  him. 


THE  TRACK   BROADENS.  joi 

"  I  read  about  Reuben  Taylor  in  one  of  our  very 
smart  papers  lately,"  Chris  went  on.  "  It  appears  that 
Mr.  Taylor  is  a  person  who  nobody  seems  to  have  seen, 
but  who  from  time  to  time  docs  a  vast  service  to  the 
community  at  large.  He  is  not  exactly  a  philanthropist, 
for  he  is  well  rewarded  for  his  labours  both  by  tiie  police 
and  his  clients  Suppose  Mr.  Merritt  here  had  done 
some  wrong." 

"  A  great  effort  of  imagination,"  Littimer  murmured, 
gently. 

"  Had  done  something  wrong,  and  an  enemy  or  quon- 
dam friend  wants  to  '  put  him  away.'  I  believe  that  ig 
the  correct  expression.  In  that  case  he  does  not  go  to 
the  police  himself,  because  he  is  usually  of  a  modest 
and  retiring  disposition.  No,  he  usually  puts  down  a 
few  particulars  in  the  way  of  a  letter  and  sends  it  to 
Reuben  Taylor  under  cover  at  a  certain  address.  Is  not 
that  quite  correct,  Mr.  Merritt  ?  " 

"  Right,"  Merritt  said,  hoarsely.  "  Some  day  we 
shall  find  out  who  Taylor  is,  and " 

"  Never  mind  that.  Do  you  know  that  the  night 
before  your  friend  Mr.  Henson  left  the  Castle  he  placed 
in  the  post-bag  a  letter  addressed  to  Mr.  Reuben  Taylor  ? 
In  view  of  what  I  read  recently  in  the  paper  alluded  to 
the  name  struck  me  as  strange.  Now,  Mr.  Merritt,  is 
it  possible  that  letter  had  anything  to  do  with 
you  ?  " 

Merritt  did  not  appear  to  hear  the  question.  His 
ej'es  were  fixed  on  space  ;  there  was  a  sanguine  clenching 
of  his  fists  aSj  if  they  had  been  about  the  throat  of 
a  foe. 

"  If  I  had  him  here,"  he  murmured.  "  If  I  only  had 
him  here  !  He's  given  me  away.  After  all  that  I  have 
done  for  him  he's  given  me  away." 

His  listeners  said  nothing  ;  they  fully  appreciated 
the  situation.  Merritt's  presence  at  the  Castle  was  both 
dangerous  and  hazardous  for  Henson. 

"  If  you  went  away  to-day  you  might  l;e  safe  ?  " 
Chris  suggested. 

"  Aye,  I  might,"  Merritt  said,  with  a  cunning  grin 
in  his  eyes.     "  If  I  had  a  hundred  pounds." 


303  THE  CRIMSON   BLIND. 

Chris  glanced  significantly  at  Littimer,  who  nodded 
and  took  up  the  parable. 

"  You  shall  have  the  money,"  he  said.  "  And  you 
shall  go  as  soon  as  you  have  answered  Miss  Lee's 
questions." 

Merritt  proclaimed  himself  eager  to  say  anything. 
But  Mcrritt's  information  proved  to  be  a  great  deal 
less  than  she  had  anticipated. 

"  I  stole  that  picture,"  Merritt  confessed.  "  I  was 
brought  down  here  on  purpose.  Henson  sent  to  London 
and  said  he  had  a  job  for  me.  It  was  to  get  the  picture 
from  Dr.  Bell.  I  didn't  ask  any  questions,  but  set  to 
work  at  once." 

"  Did  you  know  what  the  picture  was  ?  "  Chris  asked. 

"  Bless  you,  yes  ;  it  was  a  Rembrandt  engraving. 
Why,  it  was  I  who  in  the  first  place  stole  the  first  Rem- 
brandt from  his  lordship  yonder,  in  Amsterdam.  I 
got  into  his  lordship's  sitting-room  by  climbing  down  a 
spout,  and  I  took  the  picture." 

"  But  the  other  belonged  to  Van  Sneck,"  said  Chris. 

"  It  did ;  and  Van  Sneck  had  to  leave  Amsterdam 
hurriedly,  being  wanted  by  the  pohce.  Henson  told 
me  that  Van  Sneck  had  a  second  copy  of  '  The  Crimson 
Blind,'  and  I  had  to  burgle  that  as  well ;  and  I  had  to 
get  into  Dr.  Bell's  room  and  put  the  second  coj)y  in  his 
portmanteau.  Why  ?  Ask  somebody  wiser  than  me. 
It  was  all  some  deep  game  of  Henson's,  only  you  may 
be  pretty  sure  he  didn't  tell  me  what  the  game  was.  I 
got  my  money  and  returned  to  London,  and  till  pretty 
recently  I  saw  no  more  of  Henson." 

"  But  you  came  into  the  game  again,"  said  Littimer, 

"  Quite  lately,  your  lordship.  I  went  down  to 
Brighton.  I  was  told  as  Bell  had  got  hold  of  the  second 
Rembrandt  owing  to  Henson's  carelessness,  and  that  he 
was  pretty  certain  to  bring  it  here.  He  did  bring  it 
here,  and  I  tried  to  stop  him  on  the  way,  and  he  half 
killed  me." 

"  Those  half  measures  are  so  unsatisfactory,"  Littimer 
smiled. 
jMerritt  grinned.     He  fully  appreciated  the  humour 
ef  the  remark. 


THE  TRACK   BROADENS.  303 

"  That  attack  and  the  way  it  was  brought  about  were 
suggested  by  Henson,"  he  went  on.  "  If  it  failed,  I 
was  to  come  up  to  the  Castle  here  without  delay  and 
tell  Henson  so.  I  came,  and  he  covered  my  movements 
whilst  I  pinched  the  picture.  I  had  been  told  that  the 
thing  was  fastened  to  the  wall,  but  a  pair  of  steel  pliers 
made  no  odds  to  that.  I  tcok  the  picture  home,  and 
two  days  later  it  vanished.  And  that's  all  I  know 
about  it." 

"  Lame  and  impotent  conclusion  !  "  said  Littimer. 

"  Wait  a  moment,"  Chris  cried.  "  You  found  the 
diamond  star  which  you  pawned " 

"  At  your  request,  miss.  Don't  go  for  to  say  as 
you've  forgotten  that." 

"  I  have  forgotten  nothing,"  Chris  said,  with  a  smile. 
"  I  want  to  know  about  the  cigar-case." 

Merritt  looked  blankly  at  the  speaker.  Evidently 
this  was  strange  ground  to  him. 

"  I  don't  know  anything  about  that,"  he  said.  "  What 
sort  of  a  cigar-case  ?  " 

"  Gun-metal  set  with  diamonds.  The  same  case  or  a 
similar  one  to  that  purchased  by  Van  Sneck  from  Walen's 
in  Brighton.  Come,  rack  your  brains  a  bit.  Did  you 
ever  see  anything  of  Van  Sneck  about  the  time  of  his 
accident  ?     You  know  where  he  is  ?  " 

"  Yes.  He's  in  the  County  Hospital  at  Brighton* 
He  was  found  in  Mr.  Steel's  house  nearly  dead.  It's 
coming  back  to  me  now.  A  gun-metal  cigar-case  set  in 
diamonds.  That  would  be  a  dull  thing  with  sparkling 
stones  all  over  it.  Of  course  !  Why,  I  saw  it  in  Van 
Sneck's  hands  the  day  he  was  assaulted.  I  recollect 
asking  him  where  he  got  it  from,  and  he  said  that  it  was 
a  present  from  Henson.  He  was  going  off  to  meet  Henson 
then  by  the  corner  of  Brunswick  Square." 

"  Did  you  see  Van  Sneck  again  that  day  ?  "  '^"^  B 

"  Later  on  in  the  afternoon.  We  went  into  the 
Continental  together.     Van  Sneck  had  been  drinking." 

"  You  did  not  see' the  cigar-case  again  ?  " 

"  No.  Van  Sneck  gave  me  a  cigar  which  he  took 
from  the  common  sort  of  (.ase  that  they  give  away  with 
seven  ri^^.-irs  for  a  sliilliiiL,'.     I  iiskcd  him  if  he  had  seen 


)Q4  THE  CRIMSON   BLIND- 

Henson,  and  he  said  that  he  had.  He  seemed  prettf 
full  up  against  Henson,  and  said  something  about  the 
latter  having  played  him  a  scurvy  trick  and  he  didn't 
like  it,  and  that  he'd  be  even  yet.  I  didn't  take  any 
notice  of  that,  because  it  was  no  new  thing  for  Henson 
to  play  it  low  down  on  his  pals." 

'  Did  anything  else  happen  at  that  interview  ? " 
Chris  asked,  anxiously.  "  Think !  The  most  trivial 
thing  to  you  would  perhaps  be  of  the  greatest  import- 
ance to  us." 

Merritt  knitted  his  brows  thoughtfully. 

"  We  had  a  rambling  kind  of  talk,"  he  said.  "  It 
was  mostly  Van  Sneck  who  talked.  I  left  him  at  last 
because  he  got  sulky  over  my  refusal  to  take  a  letter 
for  him  to  Kemp  Town." 

"  Indeed  I  Do  you  recollect  where  that  letter  was 
addressed  to  ?  " 

"  Well,  of  course  I've  forgotten  the  address ;  but  it 
was  to  some  writing  man — Stone,  or  Flint,  or " 

"  Steel,  perhaps  ?  " 

"  That's  the  name  I  David  Steel,  Esq.  Van  Sneck 
wanted  me  to  take  that  letter,  saying  as  it  would  put  a 
Rpoke  in  Reginald  Henson's  wheel,  but  I  didn't  see  it. 
A  boy  took  the  letter  at  last." 

"  Did  you  see  an  answer  come  back  ?  " 

**  Yes,  some  hour  or  so  later.  Van  Sneck  seemed  to 
be  greatly  pleased  with  it.  He  said  he  was  going  to 
make  an  evening  call  late  that  night  that  would  cook 
Henson's  goose.  And  he  was  what  you  call  gassy  about 
it :  said  he  had  told  Henson  plump  and  j^lain  what  he 
was  going  to  do,  and  that  he  was  not  afraid  of  Henson 
or  any  man  breathing." 

Chris  asked  no  further  questions  for  the  moment. 
The  track  was  getting  clearer.  She  had,  of  course, 
heard  by  this  time  of  the  letter  presumedly  written  by 
David  Steel  to  the  injured  man  Van  Sneck,  which  had 
been  found  in  his  pocket  by  Dr.  Cross.  The  latter  had 
been  written  most  assuredly  in  reply  to  the  note  Merritt 
had  just  alluded  to,  but  certainly  not  written  by  David 
Steel.  Who,  then,  seeing  that  it  was  Steel's  private 
note-paper  ?    The  more  Chris    thought   over   this   the 


THE  TRACK  BROADENS/  305 

more  she  was  puzzled.  Henson  could  have  told  her, 
of  course,  but  nobody  else. 

Doubtless,  Henson  had  started  on  his  present  cam- 
paign with  a  dozen  different  schemes.  Probably  one  of 
them  caHed  for  a  supply  of  Steel's  note-paper.  Some- 
body unkucwn  had  procured  the  paper,  as  David  Steel 
had  testimony  in  the  form  of  his  last  quarter's  account. 
The  lad  engaged  by  Van  Sneck  to  carry  the  letter  from 
the  Continental  to  15,  Downend  Terrace,  must  have 
been  intercepted  by  Henson  or  somebody  in  Henson's 
pay  and  given  the  forp;ed  reply,  a  reply  that  actually 
brought  Van  Sneck  to  Steel's  house  on  the  night  of  the 
great  adventure.  Henson  had  been  warned  by  the 
somewhat  intoxicated  Van  Sneck  what  he  was  going 
to  do,  and  he  had  prepared  accordingly. 

A  sudden  light  came  to  Chris.  Henson  had  found  out 
part  of  their  scheme.  He  knew  that  David  Steel  would 
be  probably  away  from  home  on  the  night  in  question. 
In  that  case,  having  made  certain  of  this,  and  having 
gained  a  pretty  good  knowledge  of  Steel's  household 
habits,  what  easier  than  to  enter  Steel's  house  in  his 
absence,  wait  for  Van  Sneck,  and  murder  him  then  and 
there  ? 

It  was  not  a  pretty  thought,  and  Chris  recoiled  from  it. 

"  How  could  Van  Sneck  have  got  into  Steel's  house  ?  " 
she  asked.  "  I  know  for  a  fact  that  Mr.  Steel  was  not 
at  home,  and  that  he  closed  the  door  carefully  behind 
him  when  he  left  the  house  that  night." 

Merritt  grinned  at  the  simf)licity  of  the  question.  It 
was  not  worthy  of  the  brilliant  lady  who  had  so  far  got 
the  better  of  him. 

"  Latch-keys  are  very  much  ahke,"  he  said.  "  Give 
me  three  latch-keys,  and  I'll  open  ninety  doors  out  of  a 
hundred.  Give  me  six  latch-keys  of  various  patterns, 
and  I'll  guarantee  to  open  the  other  ten." 

"  I  had  not  thought  of  that,"  Chris  admitted.  Did 
Van  Sneck  happen  by  any  chance  to  tell  you  what  he 
and  Mr.  Henson  had  been  quarrelling  about  ?  " 

"  He  was  too  excited  to  tell  anything  [)roperly.  He 
was  jabbering  something  about  a  ring  all  the  time." 

"  What  sort  of  a  ring  ?  " 


3o6  THE  CRIMSON   BLIND. 

"  That  I  can't  tell  you,  miss.  I  fancy  it  was  a  rfnf 
that  Van  Sncck  had  made." 

"  Made  !  Is  Van  Sneck  a  working  jeweller  or  any* 
thin,^  of  that  kind  ?  " 

"  He's  one  of  the  cleverest  fellows  with  his  fingers 
that  you  ever  saw.  Give  him  a  bit  of  old  gold  and  a 
few  stones  and  he'll  make  yon  a  bracelet  that  will  pass 
for  antique.  Half  the  so-called  antiques  picked  up  on 
the  Continent  have  been  faked  by  Van  Sneck.  There 
was  that  ring,  for  instance,  that  Henson  had,  supposed 
to  be  the  property  of  some  swell  he  called  Prince  Rupert. 
Why,  Van  Sneck  copied  it  for  him  in  a  couple  of  days, 
till  you  couldn't  tell  t'other  from  which." 

Chris  choked  the  cry  that  rose  to  her  lips.  She  glanced 
at  Littimer,  who  had  dropped  his  glass,  and  was  regarding 
Merritt  with  a  kind  of  frozen,  pallid  curiosity.  Chris 
signalled  Littimer  to  speak.  She  had  no  words  of  her 
own  for  the  present. 

"  How  long  ago  was  that  ?  "  Littimer  asked,  hoarsely. 

"  About  seven  years,  speaking  from  memory.  There 
were  two  copies  made — one  from  description.  The 
other  was  much  more  faithful.  Perhaps  there  were 
three  copies,  but  I  forget  now.  Van  Sneck  raved  over 
the  ring  ;  it  might  have  been  a  mine  of  gold  for  the  fuss 
he  made  over  it." 

Littimer  asked  no  further  questions.  But  from  the 
glance  he  gave  first  to  Chris  and  then  to  his  son  the  girl 
could  see  that  he  was  satisfied.  He  knew  at  last  that 
he  had  done  his  son  a  grave  injustice — he  knew  the 
truth.  It  seemed  to  Chris  that  years  had  slipped 
suddenly  from  his  shoulders.  His  face  was  still  grav^ 
and  set  ;  his  eyes  were  hard  ;  but  the  gleam  in  them 
was  for  the  man  who  had  done  him  this  terrible  injury. 

"  I  fancy  we  are  wandering  from  the  subject,"  Chris 
said,  with  commendable  steadiness.  "  We  will  leave 
the  matter  of  the  ring  out  of  the  question.  Mr.  Merritt, 
I  don't  propose  to  tell  you  too  much,  but  you  can  help 
me  a  little  farther  on  the  way.  That  cigar-case  you 
saw  in  Van  Sneck's  possession  passed  to  Mr.  Henson. 
By  him,  or  by  somebody  in  his  employ,  it  was  sub- 
stituted for  a  precisely  similar  case  intended  for  a  present 


THE  TRACK   BROADENS.  307 

to  Mr.  Steel.  The  substitution  has  caused  Mr.  Steel 
a  great  deal  of  trouble." 

"Seeing  as  Van  Sneck  was  found  half  dead  in  Mr. 
Steel's  house,  and  seeing  as  he  claimed  the  cigar-case, 
what  could  be  proved  to  be  Van  Sneck's,  I'm  not  sur- 
prised," Merritt  grinned. 

*'  Then  you  know  all  about  it  ?  " 

"  Don't  know  anything  about  it,"  Merritt  growled, 
doggedly.  "  I  guessed  that.  When  you  said  as  the 
one  case  had  been  substituted  for  the  other,  it  don't 
want  a  regiment  of  schoolmasters  to  see  where  the  pea 
lies.     What  you've  got  to  do  now  is  to  find  Mr.  Steel's 


"  I  have  already  found  it,  as  I  hinted  to  yon.  It  is 
at  Rutter's,  in  Moreton  Wells.  It  was  sold  to  them  by 
the  gentleman  who  had  given  up  smoking.  I  want  you 
to  go  into  Moreton  Wells  with  me  to-day  and  see  if  you 
can  get  at  the  gentleman's  identity." 

Mr.  Merritt  demurred.  It  was  all  very  weU  for  Chris, 
he  pointed  out  in  his  picturesque  language.  She  had 
her  little  lot  of  fish  to  fry,  but  at  the  same  time  he  had 
to  draw  his  money  and  be  away  before  the  police  were 
down  upon  him.     If  Miss  I.ee  hked  to  start  at  once " 

"  I  am  ready  at  any  moment,"  Chris  said.  "  In  any 
case  you  will  have  to  go  to  Moreton  Wells,  and  I  can 
give  you  a  little  more  information  on  the  way." 

"  You  had  better  go  along,  Frank,"  Littimer  sug« 
gested,  under  his  breath.  "  I  fervently  hope  now  that 
the  day  is  not  far  distant  when  you  can  return  altogether, 
but  for  the  present  your  presence  is  dangerous.  We 
must  give  that  rascal  Hcnson  no  cause  for  suspicion." 

"  You  are  quite  right,"  Frank  replied.  "  And  I'd 
like  to — to  shake  hands  now,  dad." 

Littimer  put  out  his  hand,  without  a  word.  The  cool, 
cynical  man  of  the  world  would  have  found  it  difficult 
to  utter  a  syllable  just  then.  When  he  looked  up  again 
he  was  smiling. 

"  Go  along,"  he  said.  "  You're  a  lucky  fellow,  Frank, 
That  girl's  one  in  a  million." 

A  dog-cart  driven  by  Chris  brought  herself  and  her 
companion  into  Moreton  Wells  in  an  hour.     Frank  had 


3o8  THE  CRIMSON   BLIND. 

struck  off  across  country  in  the  direction  of  the  nearest 
station.  The  appearance  of  himself  in  Moreton  Wells 
on  the  front  of  a  dog-cart  from  the  Castle  would  have 
caused  a  nine  days'  wonder. 

"  Now,  what  I  want  to  impress  upon  you  is  this," 
said  Chris.  "  Mr.  Steel's  cigar-case  was  stolen  and  one 
belonging  to  Van  Sneck  substituted  for  it.  The  stolen 
one  was  returned  to  the  shop  from  which  it  was  pur- 
chased almost  immediately,  so  soon,  indeed,  that  the 
transaction  was  never  entered  on  the  books.  We  are 
pretty  certain  that  Reginald  Hcnson  did  that,  and  ve 
know  that  he  is  at  the  bottom  of  the  mystery.  But  to 
prevent  anything  happening,  and  to  prevent  our  getting 
the  case  back  again,  Henson  had  to  go  farther.  The 
case  must  be  beyond  our  reach.  Therefore,  I  decline 
to  believe  that  it  was  a  mere  coincidence  that  took  a 
stranger  into  Lockhart's  directly  after  Henson  had  been 
there  to  look  at  some  gun-metal  cigar-cases  set  in 
diamonds.  The  stranger  purchased  the  case,  and  asked 
for  it  to  be  sent  to  the  Metropole  to  '  John  Smith.' 
With  the  hundreds  of  letters  and  visitors  there  it  would 
be  almost  impossible  to  trace  the  case  or  the  man." 

"  Lockhart's  might  help  you  ?  " 

"  They  have  as  far  as  they  can.  The  cigar-case  was 
sold  to  a  tall  American.  Beyond  that  it  is  impossible 
to  go." 

A  meaning  smile  dawned  on  Merritt's  face. 

'They  might  have  taken  more  notice  of  the  gentle- 
man at  Rutter's,"  he  said,  "  being  a  smaller  shop.     I'm 
?;oing  to  admire  that  case  and  pretend  it  belonged  to  a 
riend  of  mine." 

"  I  want  you  to  try  and  buy  it  for  me,"  Chris  said, 
quietly. 

Rutter's  was  reached  at  length,  and  after  some  pre- 
liminaries the  cigar-case  was  approached.  Merritt  took 
it  up,  with  a  well-feigned  air  of  astonishment. 

"  Why,  this  must  have  belonged  to  my  old  friend, 
B ,"  he  exclaimed.     "  It's  not  new  ?  " 

"  No,  sir,"  the  assistant  explainod.  "  We  purchased 
it  from  a  gentleman  who  stayed  for  a  day  or  two  here 
at  the  Lion,  a  friend  of  Mr.  Reginald  Henson." 


THE  TRACK  BROADENS.  309 

"  A  tall  man  ?  "  said  Merritt,  tentatively.  "  Long, 
thin  beard  and  slightly  marked  with  small-pox  ?  Gave 
the  name  of  Rawlins  ?  " 

"  That's  the  gentleman,  sir.  Perhaps  you  may  like 
to  purchase  the  case  ?  " 

The  purchase  was  made  in  due  course,  and  together 
Chris  and  her  queer  companion  left  the  shop. 

"  FawHns  is  an  American  swindler  of  the  smartest 
type,"  said  Merritt.  "  If  you  get  him  in  a  corner  ask 
him  what  he  and  Henson  were  doing  in  America  some 
two  years  ago.  Rawlins  is  in  this  little  game  for  certain. 
hut  you  ought  to  trace  him  by  means  of  the  Lion  people. 
Oh,  lor'  !  " 

Merritt  slipped  back  into  an  entry  as  a  little,  clean- 
shaven man  passed  along  the  street.  His  eyes  had  a 
dark  look  of  fear  in  them. 

"  They're  after  me,"  he  said,  huskily.  "  That  was 
one  of  them.     Excuse  me,  miss." 

Merritt  darted  away  and  flung  himself  into  a  passing 
cab.  His  face  was  dark  with  passion  ;  the  big  veins 
stood  out  on  his  forehead  like  cords. 

"  The  cur,"  he  snarled — "  the  mean  cur  !  I'll  be 
even  with  him  yet.  If  I  can  only  catch  the  4.48  at  the 
Junction  I'll  be  in  London  before  them.  And  I'll  go 
down  to  Brighton,  if  I  have  to  foot  it  all  the  way,  and, 
once  I  get  there,  look  to  yourself,  Reginald  Henson. 
A  hundred  pounds  is  a  good  sum  to  go  on  with.  I'll  kill 
that  cur — I'U  choke  tlie  life  out  of  him.  Cabby,  if  you 
get  to  the  Junction  by  a  quarter  to  five  I'll  give  you 
a  quid." 

"  The  quid's  as  good  as  mine,  sir,"  cabby  said,  cheer- 
fully.    "  Get  along,  lass." 

Jleanwhile  Chris  had  returned  thoughtfully  to  the 
dog-cart,  musing  over  the  last  discovery.  She  felt  quite 
satisfied  with  her  afternoon's  work.  Then  a  new  idea 
struck  her.  She  crossed  over  to  the  post-ofl5ce  and  dis- 
patched a  long  telegram  thus  : — 

"  To  David  Steel,  15,  Downend  Tcnace,  Brighton. 
"  Go  to  Walcn's  and  ascertain  full  descrifition  of  the 
tentative    customer    wlio    suggested    the    firm    should 


ytm  THE   CRIMSON    BLIND. 

procure  gun-metal  cigar-case  for  him  to  look  at.  Ask 
if  he  was  a  tall  man  with  a  thin  beard  and  a  face  slightly 
pock-marked.  Then  telephone  result  to  me  here. 
Quite  safe,  as  Henson  is  away.  Great  discoveries  to 
tell  you. — Christabel  Lee." 

Chris  paid  for  her  telegram  and  then  drove  thou^t- 
fully  hoaaewaid. 


CHAPTER    XLVIII. 

WHERE   IS    RAWLINS  ? 

LOKD  LiTTiMER  was  greatly  interested  in  all  that  Chria 
had  to  say.  The  whole  story  was  confided  to  him  after 
dinner.  Over  his  coffee  on  the  terrace  he  offered  many 
shrewd  suggestions. 

"  There  is  one  thing  wherein  you  have  made  a  mis* 
take,"  he  said.  "  And  that  is  in  your  idea  that  Henson 
changed  those  cigar-cases  after  Miss  Gates  laid  your 
votive  offering  on  Steel's  doorstep." 

"  How  else  could  it  be  done  ?  "  Chris  said. 

"  My  dear,  the  thing  is  quite  obvious.  You  have 
already  told  me  that  Henson  was  quite  aware  what  you 
were  going  to  do — at  least  that  he  knew  you  were  going 
to  consult  Steel.  Also  he  knew  that  you  were  going  to 
make  Steel  a  present,  and  by  a  little  judicious  eaves- 
dropping he  contrived  to  glean  all  about  the  cigar-case. 
The  fellow  has  already  admitted  to  your  sister  that  he 
listened.  How  long  was  that  before  you  bought  the 
cigar-case  ?  " 

"  I  should  sav  it  might  have  been  a  week.  We  had 
inquiries  to  make,  you  know.  In  the  first  instance  we 
never  dreamt  of  offering  Mr.  Steel  money.  I  blush  to 
think  of  that  folly." 

"  Well,  blush  a  little  later  on  when  you  have  more 
time.  Then  Henson  had  a  week  to  work  out  his  little 
scheme.  He  knows  all  aboik  the  cigar-case  ;  he  knows 
where  it  is  going  to  be  bought.     Then  he  goes  to  Lock- 


3ia  THE  CRIMSON    BLIND. 

hart's  and  purchases  some  trifle  in  the  shape  of  a  cigar* 
case  ;  he  has  it  packed  up,  yellow  string  and  all.  This 
is  his  dummy.  By  keeping  his  eyes  open  he  gets  the 
chance  he  is  waiting  for.  Ruth  Gates  hadn't  the  faintest 
idea  that  he  knew  anything  when  she  left  that  case  the 
day  she  bought  it  within  reach  of  Henson.  He  gets  her 
out  of  the  way  for  a  minute  or  two,  he  unties  the  parcel; 
and  places  the  Van  Sneck  case  in  it.  No,  by  Jove,  he 
needn't  have  bought  anything  from  Lockhart's  at  ail, 
I  only  thought  of  that  to  account  for  the  yellow  string 
and  the  stamped  paper  that  Lockhart's  people  use. 
He  first  takes  one  case  out  of  the  parcel  and  replaces 
it  with  another,  and  there  you  are.  You  may  depend 
upon  it  that  was  the  way  in  which  it  was  done." 

The  more  Chris  thought  over  the  matter  the  more 
certain  she  felt  that  such  was  the  case.  Like  most 
apparently  wonderful  things,  the  explanation  was 
absurdly  simple.  A  conjurer's  most  marvellous  tricks 
are  generally  the  easiest. 

"  How  foolish  of  us  not  to  have  thought  of  this  before," 
Chris  said,  thoughtfully.  "  At  any  rate,  we  know  all 
about  it  now.  And  we  know  who  bought  the  cigar-case 
so  promptly  returned  to  Lockhart's  by  Henson.  I 
should  like  to  see  this  Rawlins." 

"  You  have  got  to  find  him  first,"  said  Littimer. 

"  I'm  going  into  Moreton  Wells  again  to-morrow  to 
make  inquiries,"  said  Chris. 

But  she  was  saved  the  trouble.  Once  more  the  ever- 
blessed  telephone  stood  her  in  good  stead.  She  was 
just  on  the  point  of  starting  for  Moreton  Wells  when 
Steel  called  her  up.  Chris  recognised  him  with  a  thrill 
of  eager  pleasure. 

"  You  need  not  be  afraid,"  she  said.  "  You  can  speak 
quite  freely.    "How  is  Van  Sneck  ?  " 

"  Very  queer,"  David  responded.  **  Bell  hoped  to 
have  operated  upon  him  before  this,  but  such  a  course 
has  not  been  deemed  quite  prudent.  The  day  after 
to-morrow  it  will  be,  I  expect.  Henson  has  found  out 
where  Van  Sneck  is." 

"  Indeed,     Has  he  been  to  see  you  ?  " 

*'  He  has  been  more  than  once  on  all  kinds  of  in- 


WHERE   IS   RAWLINS?  313 

genions  pretences.  But  I  didn't  call  you  up  to  tell  you 
this.  We  have  been  making  inquiries  at  Walen's, 
Marlcy  and  myself.  The  time  has  come  now  to  let 
Marley  behind  the  scenes  a  bit." 

"  Did  Walen's  people  know  anything  about  the  tall 
American  ?  " 

"  Oh,  yes.  A  tall  American  with  a  thin  beard  and  a 
faint  suggestion  of  smaU-pox  called  about  a  week  before 
the  great  adventure,  and  asked  to  see  some  gun-metal 
diamond-mounted  cigar-cases — like  the  one  in  Lock- 
hart's  window." 

"  Did  he  really  volunteer  that  remark  ?  " 

"  He  did,  saying  also  that  Lockhart's  were  too  dear, 
Walen's  hadn't  got  what  he  wanted,  but  they  promised 
to  get  some  cases  out  of  stock,  which  meant  that  they 
would  go  to  the  same  wholesale  house  as  Lockhart's 
and  get  some  similar  cases.  As  a  matter  of  fact,  one  of 
Walen's  assistants  was  sent  round  to  study  the  case  in 
Lockhart's  window.  The  cases  were  procured  on  the 
chance  of  a  sale,  but  the  American  never  turned  up 
again.  No  notice  was  taken  of  this,  because  such  things 
often  happen  to  shopV.cepers." 

"  And  this  was  about  a  week  before  the  night  of  the 
great  adventure  ?  " 

"  Yes.  Wait  a  bit.  I  have  not  quite  finished  yet. 
Now,  once  I  had  ascertained  this,  an  important  fact 
becomes  obvious.  The  American  didn't  want  a  cigar- 
case  at  all." 

"  But  he  subsequently  purchased  the  one  returned 
to  Lockhart's  shop." 

"  That  remark  does  not  suggest  your  usual  acumen. 
The  American  was  preparing  the  ground  for  Van  Sneck 
tc  purchase  with  a  view  to  a  subsequent  excliange.  You 
have  not  fully  grasped  the  vileness  of  this  plot  yet.  I 
went  to  Lockhart's  and  succeeded  in  discovering  that 
the  purdiaaer  01  the  returned  case  was  a  tall  American, 
quite  of  the  pattern  I  expected.  Then  I  managed  to 
get  on  to  the  trail  at  the  Metropole  here.  They  re- 
collected when  I  could  describe  the  man  ;  they  also 
recollected  the  largtmess  of  his  tijxs.  Then  I  traced  my 
man  to  the  Lion  at  Moreton  Wells,  where  he  had  ob- 


314  THE  CRIMSON   BLIND. 

viously  gone  to  see  Reginald  Henson.  From  the  Lioa 
our  friend  went  to  the  Royal  at  Scarsdale  Sands,  where 
he  is  staying  at  present." 

"  Under  Llie  name  of  John  Smith  ?  " 

"  I  suppose  so,  seeing  that  all  the  inquiries  under  that 
name  were  successful.  If  you  would  like  me  to  come 
up  and  interview  the  man  for  you " 

"  I  should  like  you  to  do  nothing  of  the  kind,"  Chris 
said.  "  You  are  more  useful  in  Brighton,  and  I  am 
going  to  interview  Mr.  John  Smith  Rawlins  for  myself. 
Good-bye.  Just  one  moment.  For  the  next  few  days 
my  address  will  be  the  Royal  Hotel,  Scarsdale  Sands." 

Chris  countermanded  the  dog-cart  she  had  ordered 
and  repaired  to  the  library,  where  Littimcr  was  tying 
some  trout-flies  behind  a  cloud  of  cigarette  smoke. 

"  Thought  you  had  gone  to  Moreton  Wells,"  he  said. 
"  Been  at  the  telei)hone  again  ?  A  pretty  nice  bill  I 
shall  have  to  pay  for  all  those  long  messages  of 
yours." 

"  Mr.  Steel  pays  this  time,"  Chris  said,  gaily.  "  He 
has  just  given  me  some  information  that  obviates  the 
necessity  of  going  into  the  town.  My  dear  uncle,  you 
want  a  change.     You  look  tired  and  languid " 

"  Depression  of  spirits  and  a  disinclination  to  exercise 
after  food.  Also  a  morbid  craving  for  seven  to  eight 
hours'  sleep  every  night.     What's  the  little  game  ?  " 

"  Bracing  air,"  Chris  laughed.  "  Lord  Littimer  and 
his  secretary,  Miss  Lee,  are  going  to  spend  a  few  days  at 
Scarsdale  Sands,  Royal  Hotel,  to  recuperate  after  their 
literary  labours." 

"  The  air  here  being  so  poor  and  enervating,"  Littimcr 
said,  cynically,  "  In  other  words,  I  suppose  you  have 
traced  Rawlins  to  Scarsdale  Sands  ?  " 

"  How  clever  you  arc,"  said  Chris,  admiringly. 
"  Walen's  American  and  Lockhart's  American,  with  the 
modest  pseudonym  of  John  Smith,  are  what  Mrs.  Mala- 
prop  would  call  three  single  gentlemen  rolled  into  one. 
We  are  going  to  make  tlie  acquaintance  of  John  Smith 
Rawlins." 

"  Oh,  indeed,  and  when  do  we  start,  may  I  ask  ?  " 

Chris  responded  coolly  that  she  hoped  to  get  away 


WHERB  IS  RAWLINS?  315 

in  the  course  of  the  day.  With  a  great  show  of  virtuous 
resignation  T^rd  Lit  timer  consented- 

"  I  have  always  been  the  jest  of  fortune,"  he  said, 
plaintively ;  "  but  I  never  expected  to  be  dragged  all 
over  the  place  at  my  time  of  life  by  a  girl  who  is  anxious 
to  make  me  acquainted  with  the  choicest  blackguardism 
in  the  kingdom.  I  leave  my  happy  home,  my  cook, 
and  my  cellar,  for  at  least  a  week  of  hotel  living.  Well, 
one  can  only  die  once." 

Chris  bustled  away  to  make  the  necessary  arrange- 
ments. Some  few  hours  later  Lord  Littimer  was  looking 
out  from  his  luxurious  private  sitting-room  with  the 
assumption  of  being  a  martyr.  He  and  Chris  were 
dressed  for  dinner  ;  they  were  waiting  for  the  bell  to 
summon  them  to  the  dining-room.  WTien  they  got 
down  at  length  they  found  quite  a  large  number  of 
guests  already  seated  at  the  many  small  tables. 

"  Your  man  here  ?  "  Littimer  asked,  languidly. 

Chris  indicated  two  people  seated  in  a  window  opposite. 

"  There  !  "  she  whispered.  "  There  he  iB.  And  what 
a  pretty  girl  with  him  1 " 


CHAPTER    XLIX 

A   CHEVALIER    OF    FORTUNE. 

LiTTiMER  put  up  his  glass  and  gazed  with  apparent 
vacancy  in  the  direction  of  the  window.  He  saw  a  tall 
noax)  with  a  grey  beard  and  hair  ;  a  man  most  imma- 
culately dressed  and  of  distinctly  distinguished  appear- 
ance. Littimer  was  fain  to  admit  that  he  would  have 
taken  him  for  a  gentleman  under  any  circumstances. 
In  manner,  style,  and  speech  he  left  nothing  to  be 
desired. 

"  That  chap  has  a  fortune  in  his  face  and  accent," 
Littimer  said.  "  'Pon  my  word,  he  is  a  chance  acquaint- 
ance that  one  would  ask  to  dinner  without  the  slightest 
hesitation.     And  the  girl " 

"  Is  his  daughter,"  Chris  said.  "  The  likeness  is 
very  strong." 

"  It  is,"  Littimer  admitted.  "  A  singularly  pretty, 
refined  ^rl,  with  quite  the  grand  air.  It  is  an  air  that 
mere  education  seldom  gives  ;  but  it  seems  to  have  done 
so  in  yonder  case.  And  how  fond  they  soem  to  be  of 
one  another  !  Depend  upon  it,  Chris,  whatever  that 
man  may  be  his  daughter  knows  nothing  of  it.  And 
yet  you  tell  me  that  the  police " 

"  Well,  never  mind  the  police,  now.  We  can  get  Mr. 
Steel  to  tell  Marlcy  all  about  '  John  Smith  '  if  we  can't 
contrive  to  force  his  hand  without.  But  with  that 
pretty  girl  before  my  eyes  I  shouldn't  like  to  do  any- 
thing harsh.     Up  till  now  I  have  always  pictured  the 

3»6 


A    CHEVALIER   OF   FORTUNE.  317 

t\'])ical  educated  scoundrel  as  a  man  who  w.is  utterly 
devoid  of  feelings  of  any  kind." 

Dinner  proceeded  quietly  enough,  Chris  having  eyes 
for  hardly  any  tiling  else  beyond  the  couple  in  the  window. 
She  rose  presently,  with  a  little  gasp,  and  hastily  lifted 
a  tankard  of  iced  water  from  the  table.  The  girl 
opposite  her  had  turned  pale  and  her  dark  head  had 
drooped  forward. 

"  I  hope  it  is  not  serious,"  said  Chris.  "  Drink  a 
little  of  this  ;    it  is  iced." 

"  And  they  told  me  they  had  no  ice  in  the 
house,"  the  man  Rawlins  muttered.  "  A  little  of 
this,  Grace.  It  is  one  of  her  old  fainting  fits.  Ah, 
that  is  better." 

The  man  Rawlins  spoke  with  the  tenderest  solicitude. 
The  look  of  positive  relief  on  his  face  as  his  daughter 
smiled  at  him  told  of  a  deep  devotion  and  affection  for 
the  girl.  Chris,  looking  on,  was  wondering  vaguely 
whether  or  not  she  had  made  a  mistake. 

"  Lord  Littimer  obtained  our  ice,"  she  said.  "  Pray 
keep  this.  Oh,  yes,  that  is  Lord  Littimer  over  there. 
I  am  his  secretary." 

Littimer  strolled  across  himself  and  murmured  his 
condolences.  A  little  time  later  and  the  four  of  them 
were  outside  in  the  verandah  taking  ices  to^^etlier. 
Rawlins  might  have  been,  and  no  doubt  was,  a  linislitd 
scoundrel,  but  there  was  no  question  as  to  his  fascinating 
manner  and  his  brilliant  qualities  as  a  conversationalist. 
A  man  of  nerve  too,  and  full  of  resources.  All  the  same, 
Littimer  was  asking  himself  and  wondering  who  the  man 
really  was.  By  birth  he  must  have  been  born  a  gentle- 
man, Littimer  did  not  doubt  for  a  moment. 

Lut  there  was  one  soft  spot  in  the  man,  and  that  was 
his  love  for  liis  daughter.  For  her  sake  he  had  been 
travelling  all  over  the  W(jrld  for  years  ;  for  years  he  had 
despaired  of  seeing  her  live  to  womanhood.  But  she 
was  gradually  growing  better  ;  indeed,  if  she  had  not 
walked  so  far  to-day  nothing  would  have  happened. 
All  the  time  that  Rawlins  was  talking  his  eyes  were 
resting  tenderly  on  his  daughter.  The  hard,  steely  look 
•eemed  to  have  gone  out  of  them  altogether. 


3i8  THE  CRIMSON  BLIND. 

Altogether  a  charming  and  many-sided  rascal,  LIttimer 
thought.  He  was  fond,  as  he  called  it,  of  collecting 
types  of  humanity,  and  here  was  a  new  and  fascinating 
specimen.  The  two  men  talked  together  till  long 
after  dark,  and  Rawlins  never  betrayed  himself. 
He  might  have  been  an  Ambassador  or  Cabinet 
Minister  unbending  after  a  long  period  of  heavy 
labour. 

Meanwhile  Chris  had  drawn  Grace  Rawlins  apart 
from  the  others.  The  girl  was  quiet  and  self-contained, 
but  evidently  a  lady.  She  seemed  to  have  but  few 
enthusiasms,  but  one  of  them  was  for  her  father.  He 
was  the  most  wonderful  man  in  the  world,  the  most 
kind  and  considerate.  He  was  very  rich  ;  indeed,  it 
was  a  good  thing,  or  she  would  never  have  been  able  to 
see  so  much  of  the  world.  He  had  given  up  nearly  the 
whole  of  his  life  to  her,  and  now  she  was  nearly  as  strong 
as  other  girls.  Chris  listened  in  a  dazed,  confused  kind 
of  way.  She  had  not  expected  anything  like  this  ;  and 
when  had  Rawlins  found  time  for  those  brilliant  pre- 
datory schemes  that  she  had  heard  of  ? 

"  Well,  what  do  you  think  of  them  ?  "  Littimer  asked, 
when  at  length  he  and  Chris  were  alone.  "  I  suppose 
it  isn't  possible  that  you  and  I  have  made  a  mistake  ?  '* 

"  I'm  afraid  not,"  Chris  said,  half  sadly.  "  But 
what  a  strange  case  altogether." 

"  Passing  strange.  I'll  go  bail  that  that  man  is  bom 
and  bred  a  gentleman  ;  and,  what  is  more,  he  is  no  more 
of  an  American  than  I  am.  I  kept  on  forgetting  from 
time  to  time  what  he  was  and  taking  him  for  one  of  our 
own  class.  And,  finally,  I  capped  my  folly  by  asking 
him  to  bring  his  daughter  for  a  drive  to-morrow  and 
a  lunch  on  the  Capstone.  What  do  you  think  of 
that  ?  " 

"  Splendid,"  Chris  said,  coolly.  "  Nothing  could  be 
better.  You  will  be  good  enough  to  exercise  all  your 
powers  of  fascination  on  Miss  Rawlins  to-morrow,  and 
leave  her  father  to  me.  I  thought  of  a  little  plan  to- 
night which  I  believe  will  succeed  admirably.  At  first  I 
expected  to  htvve  to  carry  matters  with  a  high  hand, 
but  DOW  I  am  going  to  g«t  Mr.  Rawlins  through  hti 


A  CHEVALIER  OF  FORTUNE.  319 

daughter.  I  shall  know  all  I  want  to  by  to-morrow 
night." 

Littimer  smiled  at  this  sanguine  expectation. 

"  I  sincerely  hoj^e  you  will,"  he  said,  drily.  "  But  1 
doubt  it  very  much  indeed.  You  have  one  of  the 
cleverest  men  in  Europe  to  deal  with.     Good-night." 

But  Chris  v.as  in  no  way  cast  down.  She  had  care- 
fully planned  out  her  line  of  action,  and  the  more  she 
thought  over  it  the  more  sure  of  success  she  felt.  A 
few  hours  more  and — but  she  didn't  care  to  dwell  too 
closely  on  that. 

It  was  after  luncheon  that  Chris's  opportunity  cam«. 
Lord  Littimer  and  Grace  Rawlins  had  gone  off  to  inspect 
something  es})ecially  beautiful  in  the  way  of  a  waterfall, 
leaving  Chris  and  Rawlins  alone.  The  latter  was  talking 
brilliantly  over  his  cigarette. 

"  Is  Lord  Littimer  any  relation  of  yours  ? "  he 
asked. 

"  Well,  yes,"  Chris  admitted.  "  I  hope  he  will  be  a 
nearer  relation  before  long." 

"  Oh,  you  mean  to  say — may  I  ^^venture  to  con- 
gratulate  " 

"  It  isn't  quite  that,"  Chris  laughed,  with  a  little 
rising  in  colour.  "  I  am  not  thinking  of  Lord  Littimer, 
but  of  his  son.  ,  .  .  Yes,  I  see  you  raise  your  eyebrows — 
probably  you  are  aware  of  the  story,  as  most  people  are. 
And  you  are  wondering  why  I  am  on  such  friendly 
terms  with  Lord  Littimer  under  the  circumstances. 
And  I  am  wondering  why  you  should  call  yourself 
John  Smith." 

The  listener  coolly  flii^ked  the  ash  from  his  cigarette. 
His  face  was  like  a  mask. 

"  John  Smith  is  a  good  name,"  he  said.  "  Can  you 
suggest  a  better  ?  " 

"If  you  ask  me  to  do  so  I  can.  I  should  call  myself 
John  Rawlins." 

There  was  just  the  ghost  of  a  smile  on  Rawlins's 
lips. 

"  There  is  a  man  of  that  name,"  he  said,  slowly, 
"  who  attained  considerable  notoriety  in  the  States. 
People  said  that  he  was  the  dcrnicre  cri  of  refined  rascality. 


320  THE  CRIMSON   BLIND. 

He  was  supposed  to  be  without  feeling  of  any  Und] 
his  villainies  were  the  theme  of  admiration  amongst 
financial  magnates.  There  were  brokers  who  piously 
thanked  Providence  because  Rawlins  had  never  thought 
of  gomg  on  the  Stock  Exchange,  where  he  could  have 
robbea  and  plundered  with  impunity.  And  this  Rawlins 
always  bafTles  the  police.  If  he  baffles  them  a  little 
longer  they  won't  be  able  to  touch  him  at  all.  At  present, 
despite  his  outward  show,  he  has  hardly  a  dollar  to  call 
his  own.  But  he  is  on  to  a  great  coup  now,  and,  strange 
to  say,  an  honest  one.  Do  you  know  the  man.  Miss 
Lee  ?  " 

Chris  met  the  speaker's  eyes  firmly. 
"  I  met  him  last  night  for  the  first  time,"  she  said. 
"  In  that  case  you  can  hardly  be  said  to  know  him," 
Rawlins  murmured.     "  If  you  drive  him  into  a  corner 
he  will  do  desperate  things.     If  you  tried  that  game 
on  with  him  you  would  regret  it  for  the  rest  of  your  life. 
Good  heavens,  you  are  like  a  child  playing  about  amidst 
a  lot  of  unguarded  machinery.     Why  do  you  do  it  ?  " 
"  That  I  will  tell  you  presently.    Mr.  Rawlins,  you 
have  a  daughter." 

The  hard  look  died  out  of  the  listener's  eyes. 
"  Whom  I  love  better  than  my  life,"  he  said.     "  There 
are  two  John  Rawlins's — the  one  you  know ;   and,  well, 
the  other  one.     I  should  be  sorry   to  show   you   the 
other  one." 

"  For  the  sake  of  your  daughter  I  don't  want  to  see 
the  other  one." 

"  Then  why  do  you  pit  yourself  against  me  like  this  ?  " 
"  I  don't  think  you  are  displaying  your  usual  Incidity," 
Chris  said,  coolly.  Her  heart  was  beating  fast,  but  she 
did  not  show  it.  "  Just  reflect  for  a  moment.  I  have 
found  you  out.  I  know  pretty  well  what  you  are.  I 
need  not  have  told  you  anything  of  this.  I  need  have 
done  no  more  than  gone  to  the  police  and  told  them 
where  to  find  you.  But  I  don't  want  to  do  that ;  I 
hate  to  do  it  after  what  I  saw  last  night.  You  have 
your  child,  and  she  loves  you.  Could  I  unmask  you 
before  her  eyes  ?  " 
"  You  would  kill  her/'   Rawlins  said,  a  little  iw 


A  CHEVALIER  OF   FORTUNE.  321 

steadily ;  "  and  you  would  kill  me,  I  verily  believe. 
That  chfld  is  all  the  world  to  me.  I  committed  my  first 
theft  so  that  she  could  have  the  change  the  doctors 
declared  to  be  absolutely  necessary.  I  intended  to 
repay  the  money — the  old,  old  story.  And  I  was  found 
out  by  my  employers  and  discharged.  Thank  goodness, 
my  wife  was  dead.  Since  then  I  have  preyed  on  society. 
....  But  I  need  not  go  into  that  sordid  story.  You 
are  not  going  to  betray  me  ?  " 

"  I  said  before  that  I  should  do  nothing  of  the  kind." 

**  Then  why  do  you  let  me  know  that  you  have  dis- 
covered my  identity  ?  " 

"  Because  I  want  you  to  help  me.  I  fancy  you 
respect  my  sex,  Mr.  Rawlins  ?  " 

"  Call  me  Smith,  please.  I  have  always  respected 
your  sex.  All  the  kindness  and  sympathy  of  my  life 
have  been  for  women.  And  I  can  lay  my  hand  on  my 
heart  and  declare  that  I  never  yet  wronged  one  of  them 
in  thought  or  deed.  The  man  who  is  cruel  to  women 
is  no  man." 

"  And  yet  your  friend  Reginald  Henson  is  that  sort." 

Rawlins  smiled  again.  He  began  to  understand  a 
little  of  what  was  passing  in  Chris's  mind. 

"  Would  you  mind  going  a  httle  more  into  details  ?  " 
he  suggested.  "  So  Henson  is  that  sort.  Well,  I 
didn't  know,  or  he  had  never  had  my  assistance  in  his 
little  scheme.  Oh,  of  course,  I  have  known  him  for 
years  as  a  scoundrel.     So  he  oppresses  women." 

"  He  has  done  so  for  a  long  time  :  he  is  blighting  my 
life  and  the  life  of  my  sister  and  another.  And  it  seems 
to  me  that  I  have  that  rascal  under  my  thumb  at  last. 
You  cannot  save  him — you  can  do  no  more  than  place 
obstacles  in  my  way  ;  but  even  those  I  should  overcome. 
And  you  admit  that  I  am  likely  to  be  dangerous  to 
you." 

"  You  can  kill  my  daughter.  I  am  in  your  power 
to  that  extent." 

"  As  if  I  should,"  Chris  said.  "  It  is  only  Reginald 
Henson  whom  I  want  to  strike.  I  want  you  to  answer 
a  few  questions  ;  to  tell  me  why  you  went  to  Walen's 
and  induced  tlicm  to  procure  a  certain  cigar-case  for 

X 


3M  THE  CRIMSON   BLIND. 

yon,  and  why  you  subsequently  went  to  Lockhart's  at 
Bdghton  and  bought  a  precisely  similar  one." 

Kawlins  looked  in  surprise  at  the  speaker.  A  tinge 
of  admiration  was  on  his  face.  There  was  a  keenness 
and  audacity  after  his  own  heart. 

"  Go  on,"  he  said,  slowly.  "  Tell  me  everything 
openly  and  freely,  and  when  you  have  done  so  I  wiU 
give  you  all  the  ioiormatioa  that  lies  in  my  power/' 


eRAPTCR  U 

lAWLINS    IS    CANDID. 

•*  So  Reginald  Henson  bullies  women,"  Rawlins  said, 
after  a  long  pause.  There  was  a  queer  smile  on  his  face  ; 
he  appeared  perfectly  at  his  ease.  He  did  not  look  in 
the  least  like  a  desjierate  criminal  whom  Chris  could 
have  driven  out  of  the  country  by  one  word  to  the  police. 
In  his  perfectly-fitting  grey  suit  he  seemed  more  like  a 
lord  of  ancient  acres  than  anything  else.  "  It  is  not  a 
nice  thing  to  bully  women." 

"  Reginald  Henson  finds  it  quite  a  congenial  occupa- 
tion," Chris  said,  bitterly. 

Rawlins  pulled  thoughtfully  at  his  cigarette. 

"  I  am  to  a  certain  extent  in  your  power,"  he  said. 
"  You  have  discovered  my  identity  at  a  time  when  I 
could  sacrifice  thousands  for  it  not  to  be  known  that  I 
am  in  England.  How  you  have  discovered  me  matters 
as  little  as  how  a  card-j)layer  gets  the  ace  of  trumj^s. 
And  I  understand  that  the  price  of  your  silence  is  the 
betrayal  of  Henson  ?  " 

"  That  is  about  what  it  comes  to,"  said  Chris. 

"In  the  parlance  of  the  lower  type  of  rascal,  I  am  to 
*  round  on  my  pal '  ?  " 

"  If  you  like  to  put  it  in  that  way,  Mr.  Smith." 

"  I  never  did  such  a  thing  in  my  life  before.  And, 
at  the  same  time,  I  don't  mind  admitting  that  I  was 
never  so  sorely  tried.  At  the  present  moment  I  am  on 
the  verge  of  a  large  fortune,  and  I  am  making  my  grand 

32J 


324  THE  CRIMSON   BLIND. 

coup  honestly.  Would  you  deem  it  exaggeration  on 
my  part  if  I  said  that  I  was  exceedingly  glad  of  the 
fact  ?  " 

"  Mr.  Smith,"  Chris  said,  earnestly,  "  I  have  seen 
how  fond  you  are  of  your  daughter." 

"  That  is  an  exceedingly  clever  remark  of  yours, 
young  lady,"  Rawlins  smiled.  "  You  know  that  yr,u 
have  found  the  soft  spot  in  my  nature,  and  you  are  going 
to  hammer  on  it  till  you  reduce  me  to  submissicn.  I 
am  not  a  religious  man,  but  my  one  prayer  is  that 
Grace  shall  never  find  me  out.  When  my  coup  comes 
off  I  am  going  to  settle  in  England  and  become  intensely 
respectable." 

"  With  Reginald  Henson  for  your  secretary,  I  sup- 
pose ?  " 

"  No,  I  am  going  to  drop  the  past.  But  to  return 
to  our  subject.  Are  you  asking  me  to  betray  Ilenson 
to  the  police  ?  " 

"  Nothing  of  the  kind,"  Chris  cried,  hastily.  "  I — I 
would  do  anytliing  to  avoid  a  family  scandal.  All  I 
want  is  a  controlling  power  over  the  man." 

"  The  man  who  bullies  women  ?  " 

"  The  same.  For  seven  years  he  has  wrecked  the 
lives  of  five  of  us — three  women.  He  has  parted  husband 
and  wife,  he  has  driven  the  man  I  love  into  exile.  And 
the  poor  wife  is  gradually  going  hopelessly  mad  under 
his  cruelties.  And  he  blackmails  us,  he  extorts  large 
sums  of  money  from  us.  If  you  only  knew  what  we 
have  suffered  at  the  hands  of  the  rascal !  " 

Rawlins  nodded  in  sympathy. 

"  I  did  not  imagine  that,"  he  said.  "  Of  course,  I 
have  known  for  years  that  Henson  was  pretty  bad. 
You  may  smile,  but  I  have  never  had  any  sympathy 
with  his  methods  and  hypocritical  ways,  perhaps  because 
I  never  did  anything  of  the  kind  myself.  Nobody  can 
say  that  I  ever  robbed  anybody  who  was  poor  or  de- 
fenceless or  foolish.  By  heavens,  I  am  a  more  honcist 
man  than  hundreds  of  London  and  New  York  capitalists. 
It  is  the  hard  rogues  amongst  us  who  have  alwa3's  been 
my  mark.  But  to  injure  and  wound  women  and 
children  !  " 


RAWLINS   IS    CANDID.  325 

•*  Which  means  tliat  you  are  going  to  help  me  ?  " 
Chris  asked,  quietly. 

"  As  far  as  I  can,  certainly.  Especially  as  you  are 
going  to  let  Henson  down  easily.  Now  please  ask  me 
any  questions  that  you  like." 

"  This  is  very  good  of  you,"  said  Chris.  "  In  the 
first  place,  did  you  ever  hear  Mr.  Henson  speak  of  his 
relations  or  friends  ?  " 

"  Nobody  beyond  Lord  Littimer.  You  see,  Henson 
and  I  were  extremely  useful  to  one  another  once  or 
twice,  but  he  never  trusted  me,  and  I  never  trusted  him. 
I  never  cared  for  his  methods." 

"  Did  you  go  to  Brighton  lately  on  purpose  to  help 
him  ?  " 

"  Certainly  not.  I  had  business  in  Brighton  for  some 
considerable  time,  and  my  daughter  was  with  me. 
When  she  went  away  to  stay  with  friends  for  a  short 
time  I  moved  to  the  Metropole." 

"  Then  why  did  you  go  to  Walen's  in  Brighton  and 
ask  them  to  show  you  some  gim-metal  cigar-cases  like 
the  one  in  Lockhart's  window  ?  " 

"  Simply  because  Henson  asked  me  to.  He  came  to 
me  just  before  I  went  to  the  Metropole  and  told  me  he 
had  a  big  thing  on.  He  didn't  give  me  the  least  idea 
what  it  was,  nor  did  I  ask  him.  He  suggested  the  idea 
of  the  cigar-case,  and  said  that  I  need  not  go  near  Walen's 
again,  and  I  didn't.  I  assure  you  I  had  no  curiosity 
on  the  matter.  In  any  case  a  little  thing  hke  that 
couldn't  hurt  me.  Some  days  later  Henson  came  to 
me  again,  and  asked  mc  to  go  to  Lockhart's  and  purchase 
the  cigar-case  I  had  previously  seen.  He  wanted  me 
to  get  the  case  so  that  I  could  not  be  traced.  Again  I 
agreed.  I  was  leaving  the  Metropole  the  next  day,  so 
the  matter  was  easy.  I  called  and  purchased  the  cigar- 
case  on  approval,  I  forwarded  dollar-notes  in  payment 
from  the  Metropole,  and  the  next  day  I  left." 

"  And  you  did  all  that  without  a  single  question  ?  " 

"  I  did.  It  was  only  a  little  consideration  for  an  old 
confederate." 

"  And  suppose  that  confederate  had  played  you  false?  " 

Two  tiny  points  of  flame  danced  in  Rawlins's  eyes. 


326  THE   CRIMSON  BLIND. 

"  Henson  would  never  have  dared,"  he  laid.     "  Mf 

mind  was  quite  easy  on  that  score." 

"  I  understand,"  Chris  murmured.  "  And  you  kept 
the  cigar-case  ?  " 

"  Yes,  I  rather  hked  it.  And  I  could  nfford  a  luxury 
of  that  kind  just  then." 

"  Then  why  did  you  dispose  of  it  to  Rutter's  in  More- 
ton  Wells  ?     And  why  Moreton  Wells  ?  " 

Rawlins  laughed  as  he  lighted  a  fresh  cigarette. 

"  I  came  to  Moreton  Wells  knowing  that  Henson  was 
at  Littimer  Castle,"  he  explained.  "  I  went  there  to 
borrow  £200  from  Henson.  Unfortunately  I  found  him 
in  great  need  of  money.  Somebody  who  had  promised 
him  a  large  sum  of  money  had  disappointed  him." 

Chris  smiled.  She  had  heard  all  about  Lady  Littimer's 
adventure  with  the  ring,  and  her  stubborn  refusal  to 
give  Henson  any  further  supplies. 

"  Presently  I  can  tell  you  who  disappointed  Henson," 
she  said.     "  But  fancy  you  being  short  of " 

"  Of  ready  money  ;  I  frequently  am.  One  of  your 
great  millionaires  told  me  lately  that  he  was  frequently 
hard  up  for  a  thousand  pounds  cash.  I  have  frequently 
been  hard  up  for  five  pounds.  Hence  the  fact  that  I  sold 
the  cigar-case  at  Moreton  Wells." 

"  Well,  the  ground  is  clear  so  far,"  said  Chris.  "  Do 
you  know  Van  Sneck  ?  " 

"  I  know  Van  Sneck  very  well,"  Rawlins  said,  without 
hesitation.     "  A  wonderfully  clever  man." 

"  And  a  great  scoundrel,  I  presume  ?  " 

"  Well,  on  the  whole,  I  should  say  not.  Weak, 
rather  than  wicked.  Van  Sneck  has  been  a  tool  and 
creature  of  Henson's  for  years.  If  he  could  only  keep 
away  from  the  drink  he  might  make  a  fortune.  But 
what  has  Van  Sneck  got  to  do  with  it  ?  " 

"  A  great  deal,"  Chris  said,  drily.  "  And  now,  please, 
follow  carefully  what  I  am  going  to  say.  A  little  time 
ago  we  poor,  persecuted  women  put  our  heads  together 
to  get  free  from  Reginald  Henson.  We  agreed  to  ask 
Mr.  David  Steel,  the  well-known  novelist,  to  show  us 
a  way  of  escape.  Unhappily  for  us,  Henson  got  to 
know  of  it." 


RAWLINS   IS    CANDID.  327 

Rawlins  was  really  interested  at  last. 

"  Pardon  me,"  he  said,  eagerly,  "  if  I  ask  a  question 
or  t\vo  before  you  proceed.  Is  Mr.  David  Steel  the 
gentleman  who  found  a  man  half  murdered  in  his  house 
in  Brighton  ?  " 

"  The  same.  But  don't  you  know  who  the  injured 
man  was  ?  " 

"  You  don't  mean  to  say  it  was  Van  Sneck  ?  "  Rawlins 
cried. 

Chris  nodded  gravely.  Rawlins  looked  like  a  man 
who  was  groping  about  in  a  sudden  dazzle  of  blinding 
light. 

"  I  begin  to  understand,"  he  muttered.  "  The 
•coundrel !  " 

"  After  that  I  will  resume,"  Chris  said.  "  You  must 
understand  that  Mr.  Steel  was  a  stranger  to  us.  We 
hit  upon  the  idea  of  interviewing  him  anonymously, 
so  to  speak,  and  we  were  going  to  give  him  a  gun-metal 
cigar-case  mounted  in  diamonds.  A  friend  of  mine 
purchased  that  cigar-case  at  Lockhart's.  Mind  you, 
Reginald  Henson  knew  all  about  this.  The  same  day 
Henson's  tool,  Van  Sneck,  purchased  a  similar  case 
from  Walen's — a  case  really  procured  for  your  approval 
—and  later  on  in  the  day  the  case  passed  from  Van 
Sneck  to  Henson,  who  dexterously  changed  the  cases." 

"  Complex,"  Rawlins  muttered.  "  But  I  begin  to 
iee  what  is  coming." 

"  The  cases  were  changed,  and  the  one  from  Walen's 
in  due  course  became  Mr.  Steel's.  Now  note  where 
Henson's  diabolical  cunning  comes  in.  The  same  night 
Van  Sneck  is  found  half  murdered  in  Mr.  Steel's  house, 
and  in  his  pocket  is  the  receipt  for  the  very  cigar-case 
that  Mr.  Steel  claimed  as  his  own  proj:>erty." 

"  Very  awkward  for  Steel,"  Rawlins  said,  thought* 
fully. 

"  Of  course  it  was.  And  why  was  it  done  ?  So  that 
we  should  be  forced  to  come  forward  and  exonerate 
Mr.  Steel  from  blame.  We  should  have  had  to  tell 
the  whole  story,  and  then  Henson  would  have  learnt 
what  steps  we  were  taking  to  get  rid  of  him." 

Rawlins  was  quiet  for  some  time.     Admiration  for 


328  THE  CRIMSON  BLIND. 

the  scheme  was  uppermost  in  his  mind,  but  there  wm 
another  thought  that  caused  him  to  glance  curiously 
at  Chris. 

"  And  that  is  all  you  know  ?  "  he  asked. 

"  Not  quite,"  Chris  replied.  "  I  know  that  on  the 
day  of  the  attempted  murder  Van  Sneck  quarrelled 
with  Reginald  Henson,  who  he  said  had  treated  him 
badly.  Van  Sneck  had  in  some  way  found  out  that 
Reginald  Henson  meant  mischief  to  Mr.  Steel.  Also 
he  couldn't  get  the  money  he  wanted.  Probably  he  had 
purchased  that  cigar-case  at  Walen's,  and  Henson  could 
not  repay  him  for  the  purchase  of  it.  Then  he  went  ofi 
and  wrote  to  Mr.  SteeJ,  asking  the  latter  to  see  him,  as 
he  had  threatened  Henson  he  would  do." 

"  Ah  !  "  Rawlins  exclaimed,  suddenly.  "  Are  yon 
sure  of  this  ?  " 

"  Certain.  I  heard  it  from  a  man  who  was  with 
Van  Sneck  at  the  time,  a  man  called  Merritt." 

"  James  Merritt.  Really,  you  have  been  in  choice 
company,  Miss  Lee.  Your  knowledge  of  the  criminal 
classes  is  getting  extensive  and  peculiar." 

"  Merritt  told  me  this.     And  an  answer  came  back.* 

"  An  answer  from  Mr.  Steel  ?  " 

"  Purporting  to  be  an  answer  from  Mr.  Steel.  A  very 
clever  forgery,  as  a  matter  of  fact.  Of  course  that 
forgery  was  Henson's  work,  because  we  know  that 
Henson  coolly  ordered  notepaper  in  Mr.  Steel's  name. 
He  forgot  to  pay  the  bill,  and  that  is  how  the  thing 
came  out.  Besides,  the  little  wad  of  papers  on  which 
the  forgery  was  written  is  in  Mr.  Steel's  hands.  Now, 
what  do  you  make  of  that  ?  " 

Rawlins  turned  the  matter  over  thoughtfull}  -n  hii 
mind. 

"  Did  Henson  know  that  Mr.  Steel  would  be  from 
home  that  night  ?  "  he  asked. 

"  Of  course.  He  probably  also  knew  where  our 
meeting  with  Mr.  Steel  was  to  take  place." 

"  Then  the  matter  is  pretty  obvio«s,"  said  Rawhn*. 
"  Van  Sneck,  by  some  means  or  other,  gets  an  inkling 
of  what  is  going  on.  He  wanted  money  from  Henson, 
which  he  couldn't  get,  Henson  being  very  short  lately. 


RAWLINS   IS   CANDID.  329 

and  then  they  quarrelled.  \'^an  Sneck  was  fool  enough 
to  threaten  Henson  with  what  he  was  going  to  do. 
Van  Sneck's  note  was  dispatciied  by  hand  and 
intercepted  by  Henson  with  a  reply.  By  the  way, 
will  you  be  good  enough  to  give  me  the  gist  of  tlie 
lei  Jy  ?  " 

"  It  was  a  short  letter  from  Mr.  Steel  and  signed 
with  his  initials,  and  saying  in  effect  that  he  was  at 
home  every  night  and  would  see  Van  Sneck  about  twelve 
or  some  time  like  that.  He  was  merely  to  knock  quietly, 
as  the  household  would  be  in  bed,  and  Mr.  Steel  would 
let  him  in." 

"  And  Mr.  Steel  never  wrote  that  letter  at  all  ?  " 

*'  No  ;  for  the  simple  reason  that  he  never  had  Van 
Sneck's  note." 

"  Which  Henson  intercepted,  of  course.  Now,  the 
mere  fact  of  the  reply  coming  on  Mr.  Steel's  paper  is 
evidence  that  Henson  had  plotted  some  other  or  alter- 
native scheme  against  Mr.  Steel.  How  long  before  the 
cigar-case  episode  had  you  decided  to  consult  the 
novelist  }  " 

"  We  began  to  talk  about  it  nine  or  ten  days  before." 

"  And  Henson  got  to  hear  of  it.  Then  a  better  idea 
occurred  to  Henson,  and  the  first  idea  which  neces- 
sitated getting  hold  of  Mr.  Steel's  notepaper  was  aban- 
doned. Subsequently,  as  you  have  just  told  me,  the 
note-paper  came  in  useful  after  all.  Henson  knew  that 
Steel  would  be  out  that  night.  And,  therefore,  Van 
Sneck  is  deliberately  lured  to  Steel's  house  to  be  mur- 
dered there." 

"  I  see,"  Chris  said,  faintly.  "  This  had  never  occurred 
to  me  before.     Murdered,  by  whom  ?  " 

"  By  whom  ?     Why,  by  Reginald  Henson,  of  course." 

Just  for  a  moment  Chris  felt  as  if  all  the  world  was 
slipping  away  under  her  feet. 

"  But  how  could  he  do  it  ?  "  she  asked. 

"  Quite  easily.  And  throw  all  the  blame  on  Mr, 
Steel.  Look  at  the  evidence  he  had  ready  to  his  hand 
against  the  latter.  The  changed  cigar-case  would  come 
near  to  hnng  a  man.  And  Van  Sneck  was  in  the  way. 
Steel  goes  out  to  meet  you  or  some  of  your  friends. 


330  THE  CRIMSON   BLIND. 

All  his  household  are  in  bed.  As  a  novelist  he  comet 
and  goes  as  he  likes  and  nobody  takes  any  heed.  H« 
goes  and  leaves  his  door  on  the  latch.  Any  money  it  is 
the  common  latch  they  put  on  thousands  of  doors. 
Henson  lets  himself  into  the  house  and  coolly  waits  Van 
Sneck's  coming.     The  rest  you  can  imagine." 

Chris  had  no  reply  for  a  moment  or  two.  Rawlins's 
suggestion  had  burst  upon  her  hke  a  bomb.  And  it 
was  all  so  dreadfully,  horribly  probable.  Henson  could 
have  done  this  thing  with  absolute  impunity.  It  was 
impossible  to  imagine  for  a  moment  that  David  Steel 
was  the  criminal.  Who  else  could  it  be,  then,  but 
Reginald  Henson  ? 

"  I'm  afraid  this  has  come  as  a  shock  to  you,"  Rawlins 
said,  quietly. 

"  It  has,  indeed,"  said  Chris.  "  And  your  reasoning 
is  so  dreadfully  logical." 

"  Well,  I  may  be  wrong,  after  all,"  Rawlins  suggested. 

Chris  shook  her  head  doubtfully.  She  felt  absolutely 
assured  that  Rawlins  was  right.  But,  then,  Henson 
would  hardly  have  run  so  terrible  a  risk  for  a  little 
thing  like  that.  He  could  easily  have  silenced  Van 
Sneck  by  a  specious  promise  or  two.  There  must  be 
another  reason  for 

It  came  to  Chris  in  a  moment.  She  saw  the  light 
quite  plainly. 

"  Mr.  Smith,"  she  said,  eagerly,  "  where  did  you  first 
meet  Henson  and  Van  Sneck  ?  " 

"  We  first  came  together  some  eight  years  ago  in 
Amsterdam." 

"  Would  you  mind  telling  me  what  your  business 
was  ?  " 

"  So  far  as  I  can  recollect  it  was  connected  with  some 
old  silver — Wilham  and  Mary  and  Queen  Anne  cups 
and  jardinieres.  We  had  made  a  bit  of  a  find  that  we 
could  authenticate,  but  we  wanted  a  lot  of  the  stufif, 
well — faked.  You  see,  Van  Sneck  was  an  authority 
on  that  kind  of  thing,  and  we  employed  him  to  cut 
marks  off  small  genuine  things  and  attach  them  to 
spurious  large  ones.  On  the  whole,  we  made  a  very 
jucccssful  business  of  it  for  a  long  time." 


RAWLINS    IS    CANDID.  331 

**  You  found  Van  Sneck  an  excellent  copyist.  Did 
he  ever  copy  anything  for  you  ?  " 

"  No.  But  Henson  employed  him  now  and  again. 
Van  Sneck  could  construct  a  thing  from  a  mere  de- 
scription.    There  was  a  ring  he  did  for  Henson " 

"  Was  that  called  Prince  Rupert's  ring,  by  any 
chance  ?  " 

"  That  was  the  name  of  the  ring.     Why  ?  ** 

"  We  will  come  to  that  presently.  Did  you  ever  see 
Prince  Rupert's  ring  ?  " 

"  Well,  I  did.  It  was  in  Amsterdam  again,  about  a 
year  later  than  the  time  I  mentioned  just  now.  Henson 
brought  the  real  ring  for  \^an  Sneck  to  copy.  Van 
Sneck  went  into  raptures  over  it.  He  said  he  had  never 
seen  anything  of  the  kind  so  beautiful.  He  made  a  copy 
of  the  ring,  which  he  handed  back  with  the  original  to 
Henson." 

Chris  nodded.  This  pretty  faithful  copy  of  the  ring 
was  the  one  that  Henson  had  used  as  a  magnet  to  draw 
Lady  Littimer's  money  and  the  same  one  that  had 
found  its  way  into  Steel's  possession.  But  Chris  had 
another  idea  to  follow  up. 

"  You  hinted  to  me  just  now  that  Henson  was  short 
of  money,"  she  said.  "  Do  you  mean  to  say  he  is  in 
dire  need  of  some  large  sum  ?  " 

"  That's  it,"  Rawlins  replied.  "  I  rather  fancy  there 
has  been  some  stir  with  the  police  over  some  business 
up  at  Huddcrsfield  some  years  ago." 

"  A  so-called  home  both  there  and  at  Brighton  ?  " 

"  That's  it.  It  was  the  idea  that  Henson  conveyed 
to  me  when  I  saw  him  at  Moreton  Wells.  It  ap{)ears 
tliat  a  certain  Inspector  Marley,  of  the  Brighton  Police, 
is  the  same  man  who  used  to  have  the  warrants  for  the 
Huddcrsfield  affair  in  his  hands.  Henson  felt  j)retty 
sure  that  Marley  had  recognised  him.  He  told  me 
that  if  the  worst  came  to  the  worst  he  had  something 
he  could  sell  to  Littimer  for  a  large  sum  of  money.' 

"  I  know,"  Chris  exclaimed.  "  It  is  the  Prince 
Rupert's  ring." 

"  Well,  I  can't  say  anything  about  that.  Is  thit 
ring  a  valuable  property  ?  " 


33a  THE  CRIMSON   BLIND. 

"  Not  in  itself.  But  the  loss  of  it  has  caused  a  dreadful 
lot  of  misery  and  suffering.  Mr.  Smith,  Reginald 
Ilenson  had  no  business  with  that  ring  at  all.  He  stole 
it  and  made  it  appear  as  if  somebody  else  had  done  so 
by  means  of  conveying  the  copy  to  the  very  last  person 
who  should  have  possessed  it.  That  sad  business  broke 
up  a  happy  home  and  has  made  five  people  miserable 
for  many  years.  And  whichever  way  you  turn,  which- 
ever way  you  look,  you  find  the  cloven  foot  of  Henson 
every\vhere.  Now,  what  you  have  told  me  just  now 
gives  me  a  new  idea.  The  secret  that  Henson  was 
going  to  sell  to  Lord  Littimer  for  a  large  sum  was  the  story 
of  the  missing  ring  and  the  restitution  of  the  same." 
"  Kind  of  brazening  it  out,  you  mean  ?  '* 
"  Yes.  Lord  Littimer  would  give  three  times  ten 
thousand  pounds  to  have  that  ring  again.     But  at  this 

Eoint  Henson  has  met  with  a  serious  check  in  his  plans, 
►riven  into  a  corner,  he  has  resolved  to  make  a  clean 
breast  of  it  to  Lord  Littimer.  He  procures  the  ring 
from  his  strong  box,  and  then  he  makes  a  discovery." 

"  Which  is  more  than  I  have.     Pray  proceed." 

"  He  discovers  that  he  has  not  got  the  real  Prince 
Rupert's  ring." 

Rawlins  looked  up  with  a  slightly  puzzled  air. 

"  Will  you  kindly  tell  me  what  you  mean  ?  "  he  said. 

"  It  was  a  forgery.  Van  Sneck  made  a  copy  from  a 
mere  description.  That  copy  served  its  purpose  with 
a  vengeance,  and  is  now  at  the  bottom  of  the  North 
Sea.  I  need  not  go  into  details,  because  it  is  a  family 
secret,  and  does  not  concern  our  conversation  at  all. 
At  that  time  the  real  ring  came  into  Henson's  possession, 
and  he  wanted  a  copy  to  hold  over  the  head  of  an  un- 
fortunate lady  whom  he  would  have  ruined  before  long. 
You  told  me  just  now  that  Van  Sneck  had  fa^l  f.  in 
love  with  Prince  Rupert's  ring  and  could  harcuy  bear 
to  part  with  it.     He  didn't." 

"  No  ?     But  how  could  he  retain  it  ?  " 

"  Quite  easily.  The  copy  was  quite  faithful,  but  still 
•'/  was  a  copy.  But  secretly  Van  Sneck  makes  a  copy 
that  would  deceive  everybody  but  an  e.\])ert,  and  this 
he  hands  over  to " 


RAWLINS   IS   CANDID.  333 

"To  Henson  as  the  real  ring,"  Rawlins  cried,  ex- 
citedly. 

Chris  smiled,  a  little  pleased  at  her  acumen. 

"  Precisely,"  she  said.  "  I  see  that  you  are  inclined 
to  be  of  my  opinion." 

"  Well,  upon  my  word,  I  am,"  Rawlins  confessed. 
**  But  I  don't  quite  see  why " 

"  Please  let  me  finish,"  Chris  went  on,  excitedly. 
"  Reginald  Henson  is  driven  back  on  his  last  trenches. 
He  has  to  get  the  ring  for  Lord  Littimer.  He  takes  out 
the  ring  after  all  these  years,  never  dreaming  that  Van 
Sneck  would  dare  to  play  such  a  trick  upon  him,  and 
finds  out  the  forgery.  Did  you  ever  see  that  man  when 
he  is  really  angry  ?  " 

"  He  is  not  pretty  then,"  Rawlins  said. 

"  Pretty !  He  is  murder  personified.  Kindly  try 
to  imagine  his  feelings  when  he  discovers  he  has  been 
deceived.  Mind  you,  this  is  only  a  theory  of  mine,  but 
I  feel  certain  that  it  will  prove  correct.  Henson's  last 
hope  is  snatched  away  from  him.  But  he  does  not  go 
straight  to  Van  Sneck  and  accuse  him  of  his  duplicity. 
He  knows  that  Van  Sneck  stole  the  ring  for  sheer  love 
of  the  gem,  and  that  he  would  not  dare  to  part  with  it. 
He  assumes  that  the  ring  is  in  Van  Sneck's  possession. 
And  when  Van  Sneck  threatened  to  expose  part  of  the 
business  to  Mr.  Steel,  Henson  makes  no  attempt  to 
soothe  liim.  Why  ?  Because  he  sees  a  cunning  way 
of  getting  back  the  ring.  He  himself  lures  Van  Sneck 
to  Mr.  Steel's  house,  and  there  he  almost  murders  him 
for  the  sake  of  the  ring.  Of  course,  he  meant  to  kill 
Van  Sneck  in  such  a  way  that  the  blame  could  not 
possibly  fall  upon  him." 

"  Can  you  prove  that  he  knew  anything  about  it  ?  " 

"  I  can  prove  that  he  knew  who  Van  Sneck  was  at  a 
time  when  the  hospital  peoi)le  were  doing  their  best  to 
identify  the  man.  And  I  know  how  fearfully  uneasy 
he  was  when  he  got  to  know  that  some  of  us  were  aware 
who  Van  Sneck  was.  It  has  been  a  pretty  tangle  for  a 
long  lime,  but  the  skein  is  all  coming  out  smoothly  at 
last.  And  if  we  could  get  the  rinf;  which  Henson  forced 
by  violence  from  Van  Sneck " 


334  THE  CRIMSON   BLIND. 

"  Excuse  me.     He  did  nothing  of  the  kind.** 

Chris  looked  up  eagerly. 

"  Oh,"  she  cried,  "  have  you  more  to  tell  me,  then  ?  " 

*  Nothing  authentic,"  Rawlins  said  ;  "  merely  sur- 
mise. Van  Sneck  is  going  to  recover.  If  he  does  it 
will  be  hard  for  Henson,  who  ought  to  get  away  with  his 
plunder  at  once.  Why  doesn't  he  go  and  blackmail 
Lord  Littimer  and  scU  him  the  ring  and  clear  out  of  the 
country  ?  He  doesn't  do  so  because  the  ring  is  not  yet 
in  liis  possession." 

"  Then  you  imagine  that  Van  Sneck " 

"  Still  has  the  ring  probably  in  his  possession  at  the 
present  moment.  If  you  only  knew  where  Van  Sneck 
happened  to  be." 

Chris  rose  to  her  feet  with  an  excited  cry. 

"  I  do  know,"  she  exclaimed ;  "  he  is  in  the  house 
where  he  was  half  murdered.  And  Mr.  SteeJ  shall  know 
all  this  before  he  sleeps  to-mghL" 


CHAPTER   LI. 

ilERITAGE     IS     WILLING. 

Bell's  sanguine  expectation  that  Van  Sneck  would  be 
ready  for  an  immediate  operation  was  not  quite  correct. 
As  the  day  wore  on  the  man  seemed  more  feverish  and 
restless,  which  feverishness  was  followed  by  a  certain 
want  of  strength.  After  due  deliberation  Dr.  Cross 
suggested  that  the  operation  should  be  postponed  for 
a  day  or  two. 

"  The  man  is  out  of  our  hands,"  he  said.  "  You  have 
identified  him,  and  you  desire  that  he  should  remain 
here.  It  is  pretty  irregular  altogether.  And  I  hope  I 
shan't  get  into  trouble  over  it.  Still,  in  such  capable 
hands  as  yours " 

BelJ  acknowledged  the  compliment  with  a  smile. 

"  Between  Heritage  and  myself,"  he  said,  "  we  shall 
pull  him  through,  eh.  Heritage  ?  " 

The  other  doctor  nodded  brightly.  For  some  little 
time  he  had  been  directly  under  Bell's  influence,  and 
that  had  meant  a  marvellous  change  for  the  better. 
He  had  lost  a  deal  of  his  hesitating  manner,  and  was 
looking  forward  to  the  operation  with  the  keenest 
interest. 

"  However,  I  will  j^ut  you  all  right,"  Bell  said.  "  I 
fancy  the  time  has  come  when  we  can  confide  to  a  certain 
extent  in  M  iley.  And  if  the  police  approve  of  Van 
SnecJc  \)e'r  .  p'j'-e,  I  don't  see  that  you  can  say  any  more." 

Cro»s  w:~,  emphatically  of  the  same  opinion.     Later 

JM 


33«  THE  CRIMSON  BLIND^ 

on,  in  the  course  of  a  lon^  interview  with  Mar!ey,  Bell 
and  Steel  opened  the  latter's  eyes  to  a  considerable 
extent. 

"  Well,  I  must  congratulate  you,  sir,"  he  said  to 
Steel.  "  I'm  bound  to  confess  that  things  looked  pretty 
black  against  you  at  one  time.  Indeed,  I  should  have 
been  fully  justified  in  arresting  you  for  the  attempted 
murder  of  Van  Sneck." 

"  But  you  never  deemed  me  guilty,  Marley  ?  " 

"No,  I  didn't,"  Marley  said,  thoughtfully.  "I 
argued  in  your  favour  against  my  better  judgment.  I 
gather  even  now  that  there  is  a  great  deal  for  me  to 
know." 

"  And  which  you  are  not  going  to  learn,"  Bell  said, 
drily.  "  When  we  have  Van  Sneck  all  right  again, 
and  ready  to  swear  to  the  author  of  the  mischief,  you 
will  have  to  be  satisfied." 

"That  would  satisfy  me,  sir.  And  I'm  glad  that 
cigar-case  mystery  is  settled.  You'U  let  me  know  how 
the  operation  goes  on  ?  " 

Steel  promised  to  do  so,  and  the  two  returned  to 
Downend  Terrace  together.  They  found  Heritage  a 
little  excited  and  disturbed. 

"  Do  you  know  I  have  had  a  visitor  ?  "  he  exclaimed. 

Bell  started  slightly.  He  looked  just  a  Uttle 
anxious. 

"  I'm  going  to  guess  it  at  once,"  he  said.  "  Reginald 
Henson  has  been  here." 

"  You  are  certainly  a  wonderful  fellow,"  Heritage 
said,  admiringly.  "  Nobody  else  could  possibly  have 
guessed  that.     He  came  to  see  me,  of  course." 

"  Oh,  of  course,"  Bell  said,  drily.  "  Naturally,  he 
would  have  no  ulterior  motive.  Did  he  happen  to  know 
that  we  had  a  kind  of  patient  under  the  roof  ?  " 

Heritage  explained  that  Henson  seemed  to  know 
something  about  it.  Also,  by  singular  coincidence,  he 
had  met  Van  Sneck  abroad.  He  expressed  a  d  .ire 
to  see  the  patient,  but  Heritage's  professional  cau  Jon 
had  got  the  better  of  his  friendship  for  once.  Henson 
had  given  way  finally,  saying  that  he  hoped  to  call 
again  later  in  the  day. 


HERITAGE   IS  WILLING^  557 

**  It's  a  good  thing  you  were  firm,"  Bell  said,  grimly. 
*'  Otherwise  there  would  have  been  no  need  for  an  opera- 
tion on  Van  Sneck.  My  dear  Heritage,  it's  quite  time 
your  eyes  were  opened  to  the  true  nature  of  your  friend. 
Henson  watched  Steel  and  myself  out  of  the  house. 
He  wanted  to  see  Van  Sneck  ;  he  has  probably  known 
Irom  the  first  that  the  latter  was  here." 

"  Matter  of  philanthropy,  perhaps,"  Heritage  sug- 
gested. 

"  A  matter  of  murder,"  Bell  said,  sternly.  "  My 
dear  feUow,  Van  Sneck  was  nearly  done  to  death  in 
yonder  conservatory,  and  his  would-be  assassin  was 
Keginald  Henson." 

"  I  was  never  more  astounded  in  my  life,"  gasped 
Heritage.  "  I  have  always  looked  upon  Henson  as  the 
soul  of  honour  and  integrity.  And  he  hcis  always  been 
so  kind  to  me." 

"  For  his  own  purposes,  no  doubt.  You  say  that 
he  found  you  a  home  after  your  misfortunes  came  upon 
you.  He  came  to  see  you  frequently.  And  yet  he 
always  harped  upon  that  wretched  hallucination  of 
yours.  Why  ?  Because  you  were  the  Carfax  family 
doctor  for  a  time,  and  at  any  moment  you  might  have 
given  valuable  information  concerning  the  suicide  of 
Claire  Carfax.  Tell  Heritage  the  story  of  Prince  Rupert's 
ring.  Steel." 

David  proceeded  to  do  so  at  some  length.  Heritage 
appeared  to  be  deeply  interested.  And  gradually  many 
long-forgotten  things  came  back  to  him. 

"  I  recollect  it  all  perfectly  well,"  he  said.  "  Miss 
Carfax  and  myself  were  friends.  Like  most  people 
with  badly  balanced  intellects,  she  had  her  brilliant 
moments.  \Vliy,  she  showed  me  that  ring  with  a  great 
deal  of  pride,  but  she  did  not  tell  me  its  history.  She 
w  as  very  strange  in  her  manner  that  morning  ;  indeed, 
I  warned  her  father  that  she  wanted  to  be  most  care- 
fully looked  after." 

"  Did  she  say  how  she  got  the  ring  ?  "  Steel  asked. 

Heritage  did  not  answer  for  a  moment. 

"  Oh,  yes,"  he  said,  presently.  "  She  said  it  was  a 
present  from  a  good  l^oy,  and  that  Reginald  Henson 


33*  THE  CRIMSON   BLIND. 

had  given  it  her  in  an  envelope.     I  met  Henson  dost 

by,  but  I  didn't  mention  the  ring." 

"  And  there  you  have  the  whole  thing  in  a  nutshell  !  " 
Bell  exclaimed.  "  Nothing  of  this  came  out  at  the 
inquest,  because  the  ring  story  was  hushed  up,  and 
Heritage  was  not  called  because  he  had  nothing  to  do 
with  the  suicide.  But  Henson  probably  saw  poor  Claire 
Carfax  show  you  the  ring,  and  he  got  a  bit  frightened, 
and  he  kept  an  eye  upon  you  afterwards.  When  you 
broke  down  he  looked  after  you,  and  he  took  precious 
good  care  to  keep  your  hallucination  always  before  your 
eyes.     Whenever  he  came  to  see  you  he  always  did  that." 

"  You  are  quite  right  there,"  Heritage  admitted. 
"  He  mentioned  it  this  afternoon  when  I  said  I  was 
going  to  take  part  in  the  operation  on  Van  Sneck.  He 
asked  me  if  I  thought  it  wise  to  try  my  nerves  so  soon 
again  with  the  electric  light." 

"  And  I  hope  you  told  him  he  was  talking  nonsense," 
Bell  said,  hastily.  "  There,  let  us  change  the  subject. 
The  mere  mention  of  that  man's  name  stifles  me." 

Morning  brought  a  long  letter  from  Chris  Henson  to 
David,  giving  him  in  detail  the  result  of  her  recent  inter- 
view with  John  Rawlins.  There  was  a  postscript  to 
the  letter  which  David  showed  to  Bell  with  a  certain 
malicious  glee. 

"  A  nasty  one  for  our  friend  Henson,"  he  said.  "  What 
a  sweet  surprise  it  will  be  for  that  picturesque  gentle- 
man the  next  time  he  goes  blackmailing  to  Longdean 
Grange." 

Bell  chuckled  in  his  turn.  The  net  was  drawing  very 
close  about  Henson. 

"  How  is  Van  Sneck  to-day  ?  "  David  asked. 

"  Much  better,"  Bell  replied.  "  I  propi)se  to  operate 
to-night.  I'm  glad  to  hear  that  your  mother  is  going 
to  be  away  a  day  or  two  longer." 

Heritage  appeared  to  be  ready  and  eager  for  the  work 
before  him.  A  specially  powerful  electric  hght  had  been 
rigged  up  in  connection  with  the  study  lamp,  and  an 
operating  table  improvised  from  the  kitchen.  Moie 
than  once  Pxll  looked  eagerly  at  Heritage,  but  the  latter 
stood  the  scrutiny  bravely.    Once  the  operation  wa« 


HERITAGE   IS  WILLING.  339 

gnccessfully  thnnigh,  Heritage  would  never  suffer  from 
hallucinations  again, 

"  I  fancy  evepything  is  ready  now,"  Bell  said,  at 
length.  "  After  dinner  to-night  and  this  thing  will  be 
done.    Then  the  story  will  be  told " 

"  Mr.  Reginald  Henson  to  see  you,  sir." 

A  servant  looked  in  with  this  information  and  a  card 
on  a  tray.  There  was  a  slight  commotion  outside,  thje 
vision  of  a  partially-wrecked  bicycle  on  the  path,  and  a 
dusty  figure  in  the  hall  with  his  head  in  his  hand. 

"  The  gentleman  has  met  with  an  accident,  sir,"  the 
parlourmaid  said.  Henson  seemed  to  be  knocked 
about  a  great  deal.  He  was  riding  down  the  terrace, 
he  said,  when  suddenly  he  ran  over  a  dog,  and 

"  What  sort  of  a  dog  ?  "  Bell  snapped  out.  "  What 
colour  and  size  ?  " 

Henson  was  utterly  taken  aback  by  the  suddenness 
of  the  question.  He  gasped  and  stammered.  He  could 
not  have  told  Bell  more  plainly  that  the  "  accident  " 
was  an  artistic  fake. 

"  You  must  stay  here  till  you  feel  all  right  again," 
David  suggested. 

"  Stay  here  for  the  night,"  Bell  growled,  sotto  voce. 
"  Stay  here  till  to-morrow  morning  and  hear  something 
from  Van  Sneck's  lips  that  will  finish  his  interesting 
career  for  some  time.  Medical  treatment  be  hanged. 
A  clothes-brush  and  some  soap  and  water  are  all  the 
physic  that  he  requires." 

Presently  Henson  professed  himself  to  be  better. 
His  superficial  injuries  he  bore  with  a  manly  fortitude 
quite  worthy  of  his  high  reputation.  He  could  afford 
to  smile  at  them.  But  he  feared  that  there  was  some- 
thing internal  of  a  sufficiently  serious  nature.  Every 
time  he  moved  he  suffered  exquisite  agony.  He  smiled 
in  a  faint  kind  of  way.  Bell  watched  him  as  a  cat 
watches  a  mouse.  And  he  could  read  a  deeper  purpose 
behind  that  soft,  caressing  manner.  What  it  was  he 
did  not  know,  but  he  meant  to  find  out  before  the  day 
was  passed. 

"  Hadn't  we  better  send  him  to  the  hospital  ?  " 
David  suggested. 


34*  THE  CRIMSON  BLIND. 

"  What  for  ?  "  was  Bell's  brutal  response.  "  There's 
nothing  whatever  the  matter  with  the  man." 

"  But  he  has  every  appearance  of  great  pain." 

"  To  you,  perhaps,  but  not  to  me.  The  man  is 
shamming.  He  has  come  here  for  some  purpose,  Vkhich 
will  l)C  pretty  sure  to  transpire  presently.  The  kriave 
never  dreams  that  we  are  watching  him,  and  he  hugs 
himself  with  the  delusion  that  we  take  his  story  for 
gospel.  Fancy  a  man  in  the  state  that  he  pretends  to 
be  in  sending  his  card  to  you  !  Let  him  stay  where  we 
can  keep  an  eye  upon  the  chap.  So  long  as  he  is  under 
our  observation  he  can't  do  any  mischief  outside." 

There  was  wisdom  in  what  Bell  suggested,  and  David 
agreed.  Despite  his  injuries,  Henson  made  a  fair  tea, 
and  his  dinner,  partaken  of  on  the  dining-room  sofa, 
was  an  excellent  one. 

"  And  now,  do  not  let  me  detain  you,  as  you  have 
business,"  he  smiled.  "  I  shall  be  quite  comfortable 
here  if  you  will  place  a  glass  of  water  by  my  side.  The 
pain  makes  me  thirsty.  No,  you  need  not  have  any 
further  consideration  for  me." 

He  smiled  with  patient  resignation,  the  smile  that 
he  had  found  so  effective  on  platforms.  He  lay  back 
with  his  eyes  half  closed.     He  seemed  to  be  asleep. 

"  I  fancy  we  can  leave  him  now,"  Bell  said,  with  deep 
sarcasm.  "  We  need  have  no  further  anxiety.  Perfect 
rest  is  all  that  he  requires." 

Henson  nodded  in  a  sleepy  fashion ;  his  eyes  were 
closed  now  till  the  others  had  left  the  room.  Once  he 
was  alone  he  was  alert  and  vigorous  again. 

"  Ten  nainutes,"  he  muttered,  "  say,  a  quarter  of  aa 
hour.  A  touch,  a  spot  of  water,  and  the  thing  is  done^ 
And  I  can  never  be  found  out." 


CHAPTER   LH- 

PUTTING    THE     LIGHT    OOT* 

Once  the  trio  were  in  the  operating-room  Bell  gave  cue 
rapid  glance  at  Heritage.  But  the  latter  seemed  to  have 
forgotten  all  his  fears.  There  was  an  alert  air  about 
him  ;  he  was  quiet  and  steady.  There  was  something 
of  the  joy  of  battle  in  his  eyes. 

"  Now  go  and  fetch  Van  Sneck  in,"  Bell  said. 

The  patient  came  at  length.  Everything  was  ready. 
Van  Sneck  murmured  something  and  looked  vaguely 
about  him,  like  a  man  suddenly  aroused  from  a  deep 
sleep.  But  he  obeyed  quite  willingly  when  Bell  com- 
manded him  to  get  on  the  table.  A  moment  or  two 
later  and  he  was  gone  under  the  influence  of  the  ether 
administered  by  Bell. 

A  case  of  glittering  instruments  lay  on  the  table. 
The  strong  electric  light  was  switched  on  and  hung  just 
over  the  head  of  the  unconscious  patient. 

"  You  hold  the  sponge,"  Bell  whisf)cred  to  David. 
•*  There  will  be  very  little  blood.  I  like  to  have  a  man 
with  me  who  has  coolness  and  courage.  Oh,  here  is  the 
spot.  Feel  the  depression  of  the  skull,  Heritage.  That 
b  where  the  pressure  lies,  and  no  larger  than  a  pea." 

Heritage  nodded,  without  reply.  He  took  up  the 
knife,  there  was  a  flash  of  steel  in  the  brilhant  light  and 
a  sudden  splash  of  blood.  There  was  a  scrape,  scrape 
that  jolted  horribly  on  David's  nerves,  followed  by  a 
convulsive  movement  of  Van  Sneck's  body. 

341 


34«  THE   CRIMSON   BLIND. 

"  Beautiful,  beautiful,"  Heritage  murmured.  '*  How 
easily  it  comes  away." 

Bell  was  watchinp^  in  deep  admiration  of  the  strong 
hand  that  was  yet  light  as  thistledown.  The  big  electric 
light  flickered  for  just  a  moment,  and  Heritage  stood 
upright. 

"  Don't  be  a  fool,"  Bell  said,  sternly.  "  It's  a  mere 
matter  of  current."  Heritage  muttered  that  it  must  be. 
Nevertheless  it  had  given  him  quite  a  turn.  His  face 
was  set  and  pale  and  his  hand  shook  ever  so  slightly. 
The  knife  was  cutting  deep,  deeper 

A  snarling  oath  broke  from  Bell's  lips  as  the  light 
flickered  again  and  popped  out  suddenly,  leaving  the 
whole  room  in  intense  darkness.  Heritage  cried  aloud. 
David  felt  a  hand  guiding  his  fingers  to  the  patient's 
head. 

"  Press  the  sponge  down  there  and  press  hard,"  Bell 
whispered.  "  It's  a  matter  of  life  and  death.  Another 
minute  and  Van  Sneck  would  have  gone.  Heritage, 
Heritage,  pull  yourself  together.  It  was  no  fault  of 
yours  the  light  went  out — the  fault  is  mine." 

Bell  stumbled  down  the  kitchen  stairs  and  returned 
with  a  candle.  The  electric  lights  were  out  all  over 
the  ground  floor  with  the  exception  of  the  hall.  One 
of  the  circuits  had  given  out  completely,  as  sometimes 
happens  with  the  electric  light.  Bell  leapt  on  a  table 
and  turned  the  hall  light  out.  A  second  later  and  he 
was  dragging  the  long  spare  flex  from  the  impromptu 
operating-room  to  the  swinging  cord  over  the  hall  lamp. 
With  a  knife  he  cut  the  cord  loose,  he  stripped  the  copper 
wires  beneath,  and  rapidly  joined  one  flex  to  the  other. 

"  It's  amateur  work,  but  I  fancy  it  will  do,"  he  mut- 
tered. "  Anyway,  that  rascal  is  powerless  to  interfere 
with  the  circuit  that  controls  the  hall  light." 

Snap  went  the  hall  switch — there  was  a  sudden  cry 
from  Heritage  as  the  big  lamp  over  the  head  of  Van 
Sneck  flared  up  again.  Bell  raced  into  the  study  and 
shut  the  door. 

"  A  trick,"  he  gasped.  "  The  light  was  put  out. 
For  Heaven's  sake.  Heritage,  don't  get  brooding  over 
those  fancies  of  yours  noxtf.    I  tell  you  the  thing  was 


PUTTING  THE  LIGHT  OUT.  343 

Jon«  deliberately.  Here,  if  you  are  too  weak  or  feeble, 
give  the  knife  to  me." 

The  request  had  a  sting  in  it.  With  an  effort  Heritage 
pulled  himself  together. 

"  No,"  he  said,  firmly,  "  I'll  do  it.  It  was  a  cruel, 
dastardly  trick  to  play  upon  me,  but  I  quite  see  now 
that  it  was  a  trick.  Only  it's  going  to  make  a  man 
of  me  instead." 

Bell  nodded.  His  eyes  were  blazing,  but  he  said 
nothing.  He  watched  Heritage  at  work  with  stern 
approval.  Nothing  could  have  been  more  scientific, 
mure  skilful.  It  seemed  a  long  time  to  David,  looking 
on,  but  it  was  a  mere  matter  of  minutes. 

"  Finished,"  Heritage  said,  with  a  triumphant  thrill. 
•*  And  successful."  .,;  ■ 

"  And  another  second  would  have  seen  an  end  of  our 
man,"  Bell  said.  "  He's  coming  round  again.  Get 
those  bandages  on,  Heritage.  I'll  look  after  the  mess. 
Give  him  the  ding.  I  want  him  to  sleep  for  a  good  long 
time." 

"  Will  he  be  sensible  to-morrow  ?  "  David  asked. 

"  I'll  pledge  my  reputation  upon  it,"  Bell  said. 
"  Hadn't  you  better  telephone  down  to  your  electrician 
to  come  and  see  to  those  hghts  ?  I  see  the  fuse  in  the 
meter  is  intact ;  it  is  only  on  the  one  circuit  that  they 
have  gone." 

Van  Sneck  opened  his  eyes  and  stared  languidly 
about  him.  In  a  clear,  weak,  yet  wholly  sensible  voice 
he  asked  where  he  was,  and  then  lapsed  into  slumber. 
A  little  later  and  he  lay  snug  and  still  in  bed.  There 
was  a  look  of  the  deepest  pleasure  in  the  eyes  of  Heritage. 

"  I've  saved  him  and  he's  saved  me,"  he  said.  "  But 
it  was  touch  ;md  go  for  both  of  us  when  that  light  failed. 
But  for  Bell  I  fancied  that  I  should  have  fainted.  And 
then  it  came  to  me  that  it  was  some  trick,  and  my 
nerve  returned." 

"  Never  to  leave  you  again,"  Bell  said.  "  It  tried 
you  high,  and  found  you  not  wanting." 

"Heaven  be  praised,"  Heritage  murmured.  "But 
how  was  it  done  ?  " 

Bell's  face  «vas  stern  as  he  took  the  kitchen  candlestick 


344  THE  CRIMSON   BLIND- 

from  the  table  and  went  in  the  direction  of  the  dining* 
room. 

"  Come  with  me,  and  I'll  explain,"  he  said,  curtly. 

The  dining-room  was  in  pitchy  darkness,  for  the 
lights  there  had  been  on  the  short  circuit  ;  indeed,  the 
lights  on  the  ground  floor  had  all  failed  with  the  ex- 
ception of  the  hall,  which  fortunately  had  been  on  an- 
other circuit.  The  fact  had  saved  Van  Sneck's  life, 
for  if  Bell  had  not  speedily  used  that  one  live  wire  the 
patient  must  have  perished. 

Henson  looked  up  from  his  sofa  with  a  start  and  a 
smile. 

"  I  am  afraid  I  must  have  been  asleep,"  he  said, 
languidly. 

"  Liar,"  Bell  thundered.  "  You  have  been  plotting 
murder.  And  but  for  a  mere  accident  the  plot  would 
have  been  successful.  You  have  worked  out  the  whole 
thing  in  your  mind  ;  you  came  here  on  purpose.  You 
came  here  to  stifle  the  light  at  the  very  moment  when 
we  were  operating  on  Van  Sneck.  You  thought  that 
all  the  lights  on  the  floor  would  be  on  the  same  circuit ; 
you  have  been  here  before." 

"  Are  you  mad  ?  "  Henson  gasped.  "  When  have 
I  been  here  before " 

"  The  night  that  you  lured  Van  Sneck  here  by  a 
forged  letter  and  left  him  for  dead." 

Henson  gasped,  his  lips  moved,  but  no  words  came 
from  them. 

"  You  have  a  little  knowledge  of  electricity,"  Bell 
went  on.  "  And  you  saw  your  way  pretty  clear  to 
spoil  our  operation  to-night.  You  got  that  idea  from 
yonder  wall-plug,  into  which  goes  the  plunger  of  the 
reading  lamp  on  the  cabinet  yonder.  At  the  critical 
moment  all  you  had  to  do  was  to  dip  your  fingers  in 
water  and  press  the  tips  of  them  against  the  live  wire  in 
the  wall-plug.  You  did  so,  and  immediately  the  wires 
fired  all  over  the  circuit  and  plunged  us  in  darkness. 
But  the  half  light  remained  sound,  and  Van  Sneck  was 
saved.  If  it  is  any  consolation  to  you,  he  will  be  as 
sensible  as  any  of  us  to-morrow." 

Henson  had  risen  to  his  feet,  pale  and  trembling. 


PUTTING   THE    LIGHT  OUT.  345 

He  protested,  but  it  was  all  in  vain.  Bell  approached 
the  china  wall-plusj  and  pointed  to  it. 

"  Hold  the  candle  down,"  he  said.  "  There  !  You 
can  see  that  the  surface  is  still  wet,  there  is  water  in 
the  holes  now,  and  some  of  it  has  trickled  down  the 
distemper  on  the  wall.  You  ought  to  be  shot  where 
you  stand,  murderous  dog." 

Henson  protested,  with  some  dignity.  It  was  all  so 
much  Greek  to  him,  he  said.  He  had  been  sleeping  so 
quietly  that  he  had  not  seen  the  light  fail.  Bell  cut 
him  short. 

"  Get  out,"  he  cried.  "  Go  away  ;  you  poison  the 
air  that  honest  men  breathe,  and  you  are  as  fit  and  well 
as  I  am.  Why  don't  you  pitch  him  into  the  street. 
Steel  ?  Why  don't  you  telephone  to  Marley  at  the 
police-station,  and  say  that  the  Huddersfield  swindler 
is  here  ?  Oh,  if  you  only  knew  what  an  effort  it  is  to 
keep  my  hands  off  him  !  " 

Henson  made  for  the  door  with  alacrity.  A  moment 
later  and  he  was  in  the  street,  dazed,  confused,  and 
baffled,  and  with  the  conviction  strong  upon  him  that 
he  had  failed  in  his  great  coup.  Van  Sneck  would  be 
sensible  to-morrow — he  would  speak.     And  then 

But  he  dared  not  think  of  that  at  present.  He  wanted 
all  his  nerve  and  courage  now.  He  had  just  one  last 
chance,  one  single  opportunity  of  making  money,  and 
then  he  must  get  out  of  the  country  without  delay. 
He  almost  wished  now  that  he  had  not  been  quite  so 
precipitate  in  the  matter  of  James  Mcrritt.  That 
humble  tool  might  have  been  of  great  advantage  to  him 
at  this  moment.  But  Merritt  had  threatened  to  be 
troublesome  and  must  be  got  out  of  the  way.  But, 
then,  the  police  had  not  picked  Merritt  up  yet.  Was 
it  possible  that  Merritt  had  found  out  that 

But  Henson  did  not  care  to  think  of  that,  either. 
He  would  go  back  to  the  quiet  lodgings  he  had  taken  in 
Kemp  Town  for  a  day  or  two,  he  would  change  his 
clothes  and  walk  over  to  Longdean  Grange,  and  it 
would  go  hard  if  he  failed  to  get  a  cheque  from  the  mis- 
guided lady  there.  If  he  were  quick  he  could  be  ther« 
by  eleven  o'clock. 


346  THE  CRIMSON   BLIND. 

He  passed  into  his  little  room.  He  started  back  to  se« 
a  man  sleeping  in  his  armchair.  Then  the  man,  dis- 
turbed by  the  noise  of  the  newcomer,  opened  his  eyes. 
And  those  eyes  were  gleaming  with  a  glow  that  filled 
Henson's  heart  with  horrible  dread.  It  was  Merritt 
who  sat  opposite  him,  and  it  was  Merritt  whose  eyes 
told  Henson  that  he  knew  of  the  latter's  black  treachery. 
Honson  was  face  to  face  with  death,  and  he  knew  it. 

He  turned  and  fled  for  his  life  ;  he  scudded  along  the 
streets,  past  the  hospital  and  up  towards  the  downs, 
with  Merritt  after  him.  The  start  was  not  long,  but  it 
was  sufficient.  Merritt  took  the  wrong  turn,  and,  with 
a  heart  beating  fast  and  hard,  Henson  climbed  upwards. 
It  was  a  long  time  before  his  courage  came  back  to  him. 
He  did  not  feel  really  easy  in  his  mind  until  he  had 
passed  the  lodge-gates  at  Longdean  Grange,  where  he 
was  fortunate  enough,  after  a  call  or  two,  to  rouse  up 
Williams. 

The  latter  came  with  more  alacrity  than  usual.  There 
was  a  queer  grin  on  his  face  and  a  suggestion  of  laughter 
in  his  eyes. 

"  There  seems  to  be  a  lot  of  light  about,"  Henson 
cried.  "Take  me  up  to  the  house,  and  don't  let  any- 
body know  I  am  here.     Your  mistress  gone  to  bed  ?  " 

"  She's  in  the  drawing-room,"  Williams  said,  "  sing- 
ing. And  Miss  Enid's  there.  I  am  sure  they  will  be 
glad  to  see  you,  sir." 

Henson  doubted  it,  but  made  no  reply.  There  was 
a  chatter  of  voices  in  the  drawing-room,  a  chatter  of 
a  lightsomencss  that  Henson  had  never  heard  before. 
Well,  he  would  soon  settle  all  that.  He  passed  quietly 
into  the  room,  then  stood  in  puzzled  fear  and  amaze- 
ment. 

"  Our  dear  nephew,"  said  a  cool,  sarcastic  voice. 
"  Come  in,  sir,  come  in.  This  is  quite  charming.  Well, 
my  sweet  philanthropist  and  most  engaging  gentleman, 
and  what  may  we  have  the  pleasure  of  doing  for  you 
to-night  ?  " 

"  Lord  Littimer  ?  "  Henson  gasped.  "  Lord  Littimer 
here  ?  " 


CHAPTER    LIIL 

UNSEALED    LIPS. 

Bell  gave  a  gesture  of  relief  as  the  door  closed  upon 
Henson.  Heritage  looked  like  a  man  who  does  not 
quite  understand. 

"  I  haven't  quite  got  the  hang  of  it  yet,"  he  said. 
•'  Was  that  done  for  my  benefit  ?  " 

"  Of  course  it  was,"  Bell  replied.  "  Henson  found 
out  that  Van  Sneck  was  here,  as  he  was  certain  to  do 
sooner  or  later.  He  comes  here  to  make  inquiries  and 
finds  you  ;  also  he  comes  to  spy  out  the  land.  Now, 
without  being  much  of  a  gambler,  I'm  willing  to  stake 
a  large  sum  that  he  introduced  the  subject  of  your  old 
tr-mble  ?  " 

"  He  invariably  did  that,"  Heritage  admitted. 

"  Naturally.  That  was  part  of  the  game.  And  you 
told  him  that  you  had  got  over  your  illness  and  that 
you  were  going  to  do  the  operation.  And  you  told 
him  how.  Where  were  you  when  the  little  conversa- 
ti'jn  between  Henson  and  yourself  took  place  ?  " 

"  He  was  asked  into  the  dining-room." 

"  And  then  you  told  him  everything.  Directly 
Henson's  eyes  fell  upon  that  wall-plug  he  knew  how  to 
act.  He  made  up  his  mind  that  the  electric  light  should 
fail  at  a  critical  moment.  Hence  the  dramatic  '  acci- 
dent '  with  the  cycle.  Once  Henson  had  got  into  the 
house  the  rest  was  easy.  He  had  only  to  wet  his  fingers 
and  press  them  hard  against  the  two  wires  in  the  wall- 

J47 


34$  THE  CRIMSON  BLIND. 

plug  and  out  pops  the  lipht,  in  consequence  of  the  fusel 
blowing  out.  I  don't  know  where  Henson  learnt  the 
trick,  but  I  do  know  that  I  was  a  fool  not  to  think  of  it. 
You  see,  the  hall  light  being  dropped  through  from  the 
floor  above  was  on  another  circuit.  If  it  hadn't  been 
we  should  have  had  our  trouble  with  Van  Sneck  foe 
nothing." 

"  He  would  have  died  ?  "  David  asked. 

The  two  doctors  nodded  significantly. 

"  What  a  poisonous  scoundrel  he  is  !  "  David  cried. 
"  Miss  Chris  Henson  does  not  hesitate  to  say  that  ho 
was  more  or  less  instrumental  in  removing  two  people 
who  helped  her  and  her  sister  to  defeat  Henson,  and  now 
he  makes  two  attacks  on  Van  Sneck's  life.  Really, 
we  ought  to  inform  the  police  what  has  happened  and 
have  him  arrested  before  he  can  do  any  further  mischief. 
Penal  servitude  for  life  would  about  fit  the  case." 

Van  Sneck  was  jealously  guarded  by  Heritage  and 
Bell  for  the  next  few  hours.  He  awoke  the  next  morning 
little  the  worse  for  the  operation.  His  eyes  were  clear 
now  ;    the  restless,  eager  look  had  gone  from  them. 

"  Where  am  I  ?  "  he  demanded.  "  What  has  hap- 
pened ?  " 

Bell  explained  briefly.  As  he  spoke  his  anxiety  passed 
away.  He  saw  that  Van  Sneck  was  following  quite 
intelligently  and  rationally. 

"  I  remember  coming  here,"  the  Dutchman  said. 
"  I  can't  recall  the  rest  just  now.  I  feel  like  a  man 
who  is  trying  to  piece  the  fragments  of  a  dream  together." 

"  You'll  have  it  all  right  in  an  hour  or  two,"  Bell  said, 
with  an  encouraging  smile.  "  Meanwhile  your  break- 
fast is  ready.  Yes,  you  can  smoke  aftersvards  if  you  like. 
And  then  you  shall  tell  me  all  about  Reginald  Henson. 
As  a  matter  of  fact,  we  know  all  about  it  now." 

"  Oh,"  Van  Sneck  said,  blankly.     "  You  do,  eh  ?  - 

"  Yes,  even  to  the  history  of  the  second  Rembrandt, 
and  the  reason  why  Henson  stabbed  you  and  gave  you 
that  crack  over  the  head.  If  you  tell  me  the  truth  you 
are  safe  ;  if  you  don't — why,  you  stand  a  chance  of 
Joroin^  Henson  in  the  dock." 

Bdl  went  off,  leaving  Van  Sneck  to  digest  this  speech 


UNSEALED  LIPS.  349 

at  his  leisure.  Van  Sneck  lay  back  on  his  bed,  propped 
np  with  pillows,  and  smoked  many  cigarettes  before  he 
expressed  a  desire  to  see  Bell  again.  The  latter  came 
in  with  Steel ;    Heritage  had  gone  elsewhere. 

"  This  gentleman  is  Mr.  Steel  ?  "  Van  Sneck  suggested. 

Bell  responded  somewhat  drily  that  it  was.  "  But  I 
see  you  are  going  to  tell  us  everything,"  he  went  on. 
"  That  being  so,  suppose  you  begin  at  the  beginning. 
When  you  sold  that  copy  of  the  '  Crimson  Blind '  to 
Lord  Littimer  had  you  the  other  copy  ?  " 

"  Ach,  you  have  got  to  the  bottom  of  things,  it  seems/' 
Van  Sneck  gurgled. 

"  Yes,  and  I  have  saved  your  life,  foolish  as  it  might 
seem,"  Bell  replied.  "  You  came  very  near  to  losing 
it  the  second  attempt  last  night  at  Henson's  hands. 
Henson  is  done  for,  played  out,  burst  up.  We  can 
arrest  him  on  half-a-dozen  charges  when  we  please. 
We  can  have  you  arrested  any  time  on  a  charge  of  con- 
•piracy  over  those  pictures " 

"  Of  which  I  am  innocent ;  I  swear  it,"  Van  Sneck 
said,  solemnly.  "  Those  two  Rembrandts — they  fell 
into  my  hands  by  what  you  call  a  slice  of  good  luck. 
I  am  working  hand  in  glove  with  Henson  at  the  time, 
and  show  him  them.  I  suggest  Lord  Littimer  as  a 
purchaser.  He  would,  perhaps,  buy  the  two,  which 
would  be  a  httle  fortune  for  me.  Then  Henson,  he 
says,  '  Don't  you  be  a  fool.  Van  Sneck.  Suppress  the 
other  ;  say  nothing  about  it.  You  get  as  much  from 
Littimer  for  the  one  as  you  get  for  the  two,  because  Lord 
Littimer  think  it  unique.'  " 

"  That  idea  commended  itself  to  a  curio  dealer  ?  " 
Bell  suggested,  drily. 

"  But  yes,"  Van  Sneck  said,  eagerly.  "  Later  on 
we  disclose  the  other  and  get  a  second  big  price.  And 
Lord  Littimer  he  buy  the  first  copy  for  a  long  price." 

"  After  which  you  discreetly  disappear,"  said  Steel. 
*•  Did  you  steal  those  pictures  ?  " 

"  No,"  Van  Sneck  said,  indignantly.  "  They  came 
to  me  in  the  way  of  honest  business — a  poor  workman 
who  knows  nothing  of  their  value,  and  takes  fifteen 
marks  for  them." 


350  THE  CRIMSON   BLIND. 

"  Honest  merchant,"  David  murmured.  "  Pray  go 
on." 

"  I  had  to  go  away.  Some  youthful  foolishness  over 
some  garnets  raked  up  after  many  years.  The  pohce 
came  down  upon  me  so  suddenly  that  I  got  away  with 
the  skin  of  my  teeth.  I  leave  the  other  Rembrandt, 
everything,  behind  me.  I  do  not  know  that  Henson 
he  fiive  me  away  so  that  he  can  steal  the  other  Rem- 
brandt." 

"  So  you  have  found  that  out  ?  "  said  BeU.  "  Who 
told  you  f  " 

"  I  learn  that  not  so  long  ago.  I  learn  it  from  a 
scoundrel  called  Merritt,  a  tool  of  Plenson.  He  tells 
me  to  go  to  Littimer  Castle  to  steal  the  Rembrandt  for 
Henson,  because  Di.  Bell,  he  find  my  Rembrandt. 
Then  I  what  you  call  pump  Merritt,  and  he  tells  me  all 
about  the  supposed  robbery  at  Amsterdam  and  what 
was  found  in  the  portmanteau  of  good  Dr.  Bell  yonder. 
Then  I  go  to  Henson  and  tell  him  what  I  find  out,  and 
he  laughs.  Mind  you,  that  was  after  I  came  here  from 
Paris  on  business  for  Henson." 

"  About  the  time  you  bought  that  diamond-mounted 
cigar-case  ?  "  David  asked,  quietly. 

Van  Sneck  nodded.  He  was  evidently  impressed  by 
the  knowledge  possessed  by  his  questioners. 

"  That's  it,"  he  said.  "  I  buy  it  because  Henson  ask 
me  to.  Henson  say  he  make  it  all  right  about  the 
Rembrandt,  and  that  if  I  do  as  I  am  told  he  give  me 
;f5oo.  His  money  is  to  come  on  a  certain  day,  but  I 
pump  and  I  pump,  and  I  find  that  there  is  some  game 
against  Mr.  Steel,  who  is  a  great  novelist." 

"  That  is  very  kind  of  you,"  David  said,  modestly. 

"  One  against  Miss  Enid  Henson,"  Van  Sneck  went 
on.  "  I  met  that  young  lady  once  and  I  liked  her ; 
therefore,  I  say  I  will  be  no  party  to  getting  her  into 
trouble.  And  Henson  says  I  am  one  big  fool,  and  that 
he  is  only  giving  Mr.  Steel  a  lesson  in  the  art  of  minding 
his  own  business.  So  I  ask  no  further  questions,  though 
I  am  a  good  bit  puzzled.  With  the  last  bank-notes  I 
possess  I  go  to  a  place  called  Walen's  and  buy  the  cigar- 
CMe  that  Henson  says.     I  meet  liim  and  hand  over  th« 


UNSEALED   LIPS.  351 

case  and  ask  him  for  my  money.  Henson  swears  that 
hi  has  no  money  at  all,  not  even  enough  to  repay  me 
tlie  price  of  the  cigar-case.  He  has  been  disappointed. 
And  I  have  been  drinking.  So  I  swear  I  will  write 
a-xd  ask  Mr.  Steel  to  see  me,  and  I  do  so," 

''  And  you  get  an  answer  ?  "  David  asked. 

"  Sir,  I  do.  You  said  you  would  see  me  the  same 
night.     It  was  a  forgery  ? 

"  It  was.  Henson  had  anticipated  something  like 
that.  I  know  all  about  the  forgery,  how  my  notepaper 
was  procured,  and  when  the  forgery  was  written.  But 
that  has  very  little  to  do  with  the  story  now.  Please 
go  on." 

Van  Sneck  paused  before  he  proceeded. 

"  I  am  not  quite  sober,"  he  said.  "  I  am  hot  with 
what  I  called  my  wrongs.  I  come  here  and  ring  the 
bell.  The  hall  was  in  darkness.  There  was  a  light 
in  the  conservatory,  but  none  in  the  study.  I  quite 
believed  that  it  was  Mr.  Steel  who  opened  the  door  and 
motioned  me  towards  the  study.  Then  the  door  of 
the  study  closed  and  locked  behind  me,  and  the  electric 
:ight  shot  up.  When  I  turned  round  I  found  myseh" 
face  to  face  with  Henson." 

Van  Sneck  paused  again  and  shuddered  at  some 
hideous  recollection.  His  eyes  were  dark  and  eager ; 
tliere  was  a  warm  moisture  like  varnish  on  his  face. 

"  Even  that  discovery  did  not  quite  sober  me,"  he 
went  on.  "  I  fancied  it  was  some  joke,  or  that  perhaps 
I  had  got  into  the  wrong  house.  But  no,  it  was  the 
room  of  a  literary  gentleman.  I — 1  expected  to  see 
Mr.  Steel  come  in  or  to  try  the  door.  Henson  smiled 
at  ine.  Such  a  smile  !  He  asked  me  if  I  had  the  receipt 
for  the  cigar-case  about  me,  and  I  said  it  vv;is  in  my 
pocket.  Then  he  smiled  again,  and  something  told  me 
my  life  was  in  danger. 

"  I  was  getting  pretty  sober  by  that  time.  It  came 
to  me  that  I  had  been  lured  there  ;  that  Henson  had 
pot  into  the  house  during  the  absence  of  tlie  owner. 
It  was  late  at  night  in  a  quiet  house,  and  nobody  had 
seen  me  come.  If  that  man  liked  to  kill  me  he  could 
do  so  and  walk  out  of  the  house  without  the  faintest 


35t  THE  CRIMSON   BLIND. 

chance  of  discovery.  And  he  was  twice  ray  size,  and  • 
mm  without  feeling.  I  looked  round  me  furtively  for 
a  wen  pen. 

"  He  saw  my  glance  and  understood  it,  and  smiled 
again.  I  was  trembling  from  head  to  foot  now  with  a 
vague,  nameless  terror.  From  the  very  first  I  knew 
that  I  had  not  the  smallest  chance.  Honson  approached 
me  and  laid  his  hand  on  my  shoulder.  He  wanted 
something,  he  gave  that  something  a  name.  If  I  passed 
that  something  over  to  him  I  was  free,  ff  not 

"  Well,  gentlemen,  I  didn't  believe  him.  He  had 
made  a  discovery  that  frightened  me.  And  I  had  what 
he  wanted  in  my  pocket.  If  I  had  handed  it  over  to 
him  he  would  not  have  spared  me.  As  he  approached 
me  my  foot  slipped  and  I  stumbled  into  the  conservatory. 
I  fell  backwards.  And  then  I  recovered  myself  and 
defied  Henson. 

"  '  Fool,'  he  hissed,  '  do  you  want  to  die  ? ' 

"  But  I  knew  that  I  should  die  in  any  case.  Even 
then  I  could  smile  to  myself  as  I  thouGjht  how  I  could 
baffle  my  foe.  Once,  twice,  three  times  he  repealled 
his  demands,  and  each  time  I  was  obdurate.  I  kiiew 
that  he  would  kill  me  in  any  case. 

"  He  came  with  a  snarl  of  rage ;  there  was  a  knife 
in  his  hand.  I  hurled  a  flower-pot  at  his  head  and  missed 
him.  The  next  instant  and  he  had  me  by  the  throat. 
I  felt  his  knife  between  my  shoulders,  then  a  stunning 
blow  on  the  head,  and  till  I  woke  here  to-day  I  cannot 
recollect  a  single  thing."  "l^.'- 

Van  Sncck  paused  and  wiped  his  face,  wet' with  the 
horror  of  the  recollection.  David  Steel  gave  Befi  a 
significant  glance,  and  the  latter  nodded. 

"  Was  the  thing  that  Henson  wanted  a  ring  ?  "  Steel 
asked,  quietly. 


CHAPTER    LIV* 

WHERE     IS     THE     RING? 

Van  Sneck  looked  up  with  some  signs  of  confusion. 
He  had  not  expected  a  question  of  that  kind.  There 
was  just  the  suggestion  of  cunning  on  his  face. 

"  A  ring !  "  he  murmured,  vaguely.  "  A  ring ! 
What  ring  ?  " 

"  Now,  look  here,"  David  said,  sternly.  "  You  are 
more  or  less  in  our  power,  you  know,  but  we  are  not 
disposed  to  be  hard  on  you  so  long  as  you  are  quite 
candid  with  us.  Henson  required  something  that  he 
beheved  to  be  in  your  possession  ;  indeed,  you  have  as 
good  as  said  you  had  it  with  you.  Henson  lured  you 
into  my  house  to  get  that  more  than  anything  else. 
That  he  would  have  killed  you  even  after  he  got  it,  I 
firmly  believe.  But  that  is  not  the  point.  Now,  was 
not  Henson  looking  for  Prince  Rupert's  ring  that  you 
got  from  him  by  means  of  a  trick  ?  " 

Van  Sneck  dropped  his  hands  helplessly  on  the  bed. 

"  Gentlemen,"  he  whined,  "  you  are  too  much  for 
me.  The  marvellous  accuracy  of  your  knowledge  is 
absolutely  overwhelming.  It  was  the  ring  Henson 
was  after." 

"  1  he  one  you  stole  from  him  years  ago  I  But  what 
did  you  know  about  it  ?  " 

Van  Sneck  smiled. 

"  There  is  no  living  man  who  knows  more  about 
those  thing's  than  I  do,"  he  said.  "  It  is  a  passion  and 
a  study  with  me.     And  some  seven  years  ago,  in  Holland, 

333  Z 


354  THE  CRIMSON   BLINa 

Henson  gave  me  the  description  of  a  ring  he  wanted 
me  to  copy.  Henson  never  told  me  what  the  ring  was 
called,  but  I  knew  it  was  the  Prince  Rupert  ring.  I 
made  the  copy,  and  Henson  was  pleased  with  it.  Some 
time  later  he  came  to  me  with  the  original,  and  asked 
for  another  copy.  I  meant  to  be  honest,  but  my  love 
for  those  things  got  the  better  of  me.  I  made  him  two 
copies  :  the  one  good,  and  the  other  an  exact  facsimile 
of  the  Prince  Rupert.  These  I  handed  over  to  Henson, 
and  he  went  away  perfectly  satisfied  that  he  had  a  good 
copy  and  the  original.  I  chuckled  to  myself,  feeling 
pretty  sure  that  he  would  never  find  out." 

"  But  he  did  find  out  ?  "  David  said. 

"  Only  lately.  Probably  he  took  it  to  an  expert  for 
valuation  or  perhaps  for  sale.  Lately  his  idea  was  to 
offer  the  ring  to  Lord  Littimer  for  a  huge  sum  of  money, 
but  when  he  discovered  he  had  been  done  he  knew  that 
Lord  Littimer  would  not  be  so  deceived.  Also  he  had 
a  pretty  good  idea  that  I  should  keep  the  ring  about  me. 
You  see,  I  dared  not  sell  an  historic  gem  like  that. 
And,  as  usual,  Henson  was  perfectly  right." 

"  Then  you  had  the  ring  in  your  pocket  the  night  you 
came  here  ?  "  asked  Steel,  with  a  commendable  effort 
at  coolness.     "  Did  Henson  get  it  ?  " 

"  No,  he  didn't,"  Van  Sneck  chuckled.  "  Come 
what  might,  I  had  made  up  my  mind  that  he  should 
never  see  that  ring  again.  You  see,  I  was  frightened 
and  confused,  and  I  was  not  properly  sober,  and  I  did 
something  with  the  ring,  though  to  save  my  life  I  couldn't 
say  what  I  did.  Do  you  know,  Dr.  Bell,  I  have  lost 
my  sense  of  smell  ?  " 

Steel  wriggled  impatiently  about  on  his  chair.  The 
interruption  was  exasperating.  Bell,  however,  seemed 
to  take  a  different  view  of  the  matter  altogether. 

"  Quite  naturally,"  he  said.  "  The  blow  on  your 
head  held  all  your  senses  suspended  for  a  time.  After 
the  operation  I  should  not  have  been  surprised  to  have 
found  you  half  blind  and  stone  deaf  into  the  bargain. 
But  one  thing  is  certain — your  smell  wUl  come  back 
to  you.  It  may  remain  in  abeyance  for  a  few  days,  it 
niay  return  in  a  few  moments." 


WHERE  IS  THE   RING?  355 

"  What  on  earth  has  this  to  do  with  our  interview  ?  " 
David  asked. 

"  I  fancy  a  great  deal,"  Bell  said.  "  The  sense  ol 
smell  has  a  great  deal  to  do  with  memory.  Doesn't  the 
scent  of  flowers  bring  back  vivid  recollections  of  things 
sometimes  for  years  forgotten  ?  Van  Sneck  was  going 
to  say  the  air  was  heavy  with  the  fragrance  of  some 
particular  blossom  when  he  was  struck  down  by  Henson 
in  your  conservatory." 

"  Very  clever  man,  Dr.  Bell,"  Van  Sneck  said,  ad- 
miringly. "  He  seems  to  see  right  through  your  mind 
and  out  at  the  other  side.  To  a  great  extent  I  recollect 
all  that  happened  tb.at  eventful  night.  And  just  at 
the  very  last  I  seem  to  smell  something  powerful.  That 
smell  came  to  my  nostrils  just  like  a  flash  and  then  had 
gone  again.  Gentlemen,  if  I  could  have  a  good  long 
scent  at  that  flower  I  tell  you  what  I  did  with  that  ring." 

"  Sounds  rather  comp)lex,"  David  said. 

"  Not  a  bit  of  it,"  Beil  retorted.  "  Our  friend  is 
talking  sound  common  sense,  and  our  friend  is  going 
to  rest  now  late  into  the  afternoon,  when  we'll  put  him 
into  an  armchair  with  some  pillows  and  let  him  sit  in 
the  conservatory.  Associating  with  familiar  sur- 
roundings frequently  works  wonders.  Van  Sneck,  you 
go  to  sleep." 

Van  Sneck  closed  his  eyes  obediently.  He  was 
somewhat  tired  with  the  interview.  But,  on  the  whole, 
Bell  decided  that  he  was  doing  very  well  indeed.  And 
there  was  very  little  more  to  be  done  for  tlie  present. 
The  two  men  smoked  their  cigars  peacefully. 

"  We  have  got  to  the  end,"  Bell  said. 

"  I  fancy  so,"  David  murmured.  "  But  we  can't  save 
the  scandal.  I  don't  see  how  Reginald  Henson  is  going 
to  get  out  of  the  mess  without  a  })rosecution." 

Any  further  speculation  as  to  the  future  of  that 
engaging  rascal  was  cut  short  by  a  pleasant  surprise, 
no  other  than  the  unexpected  arrival  of  Ruth  Gates 
and  Chris  Henson.  The  latter  was  beaming  with  he;dth 
and  happiness  ;  she  had  discarded  her  disguise,  and 
stood  confessed  before  all  the  world  like  the  beautiful 
creature  that  she  was. 


356  THE  CRIMSON   BLIND. 

"  Wliat  does  it  aU  mean  ?  "  David  asked.  "  What 
will  Longdean  village  say  ?  " 

"  What  does  Longdean  village  know  ?  "  Chris  retorted- 
"  They  are  vaguely  aware  that  somebody  was  taken 
away  from  the  house  a  short  time  ago  to  be  buried,  but 
that  is  all  their  knowledge.  And  there  is  no  more  need 
for  disgi' 3e,  Lord  Littimer  says.  He  knows  pietty 
well  everything.  He  has  been  very  restless  and  uneasy 
for  the  past  day  or  two,  and  yesterday  he  left  say-ng 
that  he  had  business  in  London.  Early  to-day  I  had  a 
characteristic  telegram  from  him  saying  that  he  was  at 
Longdean,  and  that  I  was  necessary  to  his  comfort  there. 
I  was  to  come  clothed  in  my  right  mind,  and  I  was  to 
bring  Mr.  Steel  and  Dr.  Bell  along." 

"  It  can't  be  managed,"  said  Bell.  "  We've  got  Van 
Sneck  here." 

"  And  I  had  forgotten  all  about  him,"  said  Chris. 
'  Was  the  operation  successful  ?  " 

Bell  told  his  budget  of  good  news  down  to  the  story 
of  the  ring  and  the  mysterious  manner  in  which  it  had 
disappeared  again.  David  had  followed  Ruth  into  the 
conservatory,  where  she  stood  with  her  dainty  head 
buried  over  a  rose. 

She  looked  up  with  a  warm,  shy  smile  on  her  face. 

"  I  hope  you  are  satisfied,"  she  said,  "  you  are  safe 
now  ?  " 

"  I  was  never  very  much  alarmed,  dearest,"  Steel 
said.  "  If  this  thing  had  never  happened  I  might  never 
have  met  you.  And  as  soon  as  this  business  is  definitely 
settled  I  shall  come  and  see  your  uncle.  I  am  a  very 
mpatient  man,  Ruth." 

"  And  you  shall  see  my  uncle  when  you  please, 
dear,"  she  said.  "  You  will  find  him  quite  as 
charming  as  you  say  your  mother  is.  What  will 
she  say  ?  " 

"  Say  ?  That  you  are  the  dearest  and  sweetest  girl 
in  the  world,  and  that  I  am  a  lucky  fellow.  But  you 
are  not  going  off  already  ?  " 

"  Indeed,  we  must.  We  have  a  cab  at  the  door. 
And  I  am  going  to  brave  the  horrors  of  Longdean  Grange 
and  spend  the  night  there.    Only,   I  fancy  that  tna 


WHERE   IS  THE  RING  ?  357 

horrors  have  gone  for  ever.     I  shall  be  very  disappointed 
if  you  don't  come  to-morrow." 

Behind  a  friendly  palm  David  bent  and  kis?rd  the 
shy  lips,  with  a  vow  that  he  would  see  Longdean  Grange 
on  the  morrow.  Then  Chris  caught  up  Ruth  with  a 
whirl,  and  they  were  gone. 

It  was  after  ten  that  Bell  and  Steel  managed  to  convey 
Van  Sneck  to  the  conservatory.  The  place  was  filled 
with  brightness  and  scent  and  colour  and  the  afterglow 
of  the  sunshine.  The  artistic  eye  of  the  Dutchman 
lighted  up  with  genuine  pleasure. 

"  They  say  you  islanders  are  crude  and  cold,  and 
have  no  sense  of  the  beautiful,"  he  said.  "  But  there 
are  no  houses  anysvhere  to  compare  with  those  of  the 
better-class  Englishman,  Look  at  those  colours  blend- 
ing  " 

"  Hang  those  colours,"  said  Bell,  vigorously.  "  Steel, 
there  is  nothing  like  moisture  to  bring  out  the  full 
fragrance  of  flowers.  Turn  on  your  hose  and  give  your 
plants  a  good  watering." 

"  It's  the  proper  time,"  David  laughed.  "  Turn  on 
the  tap  for  me." 

A  cooling  stream  played  on  the  flowers ;  plants 
dropped  their  heads  filled  with  the  diamond  moisture  ; 
the  whole  atmosphere  was  filled  with  the  odour  of  moist 
earth.     Then  the  air  seemed  laden  with  the  mingled  scent. 

"  I  can  smell  the  soil,"  Van  Sneck  cried.  "  How 
good  it  is  to  smell  anything  again  !  And  I  can  just 
catch  a  suggestion  of  the  perfume  of  something  familiar. 
What's  that  red  bloom  ?  " 

He  pointed  to  a  creeper  growing  up  the  wall.  David 
broke  off  a  spray. 

"  That's  a  kind  of  Japanese  passion  flower,"  he  said. 
•*  It  has  a  lovely  full-flavoured  scent  like  a  mixture  of 
violets  and  almonds.     Smell  it." 

Van  Sneck  placed  the  wet  dripping  spray  to  his  nose. 
Just  for  an  instant  it  conveyed  nothing  to  him.  Then 
he  half  rose  with  a  triumphant  cry. 

"  Steady  there,"  said  I5cll.  "  You  mustn't  get  up, 
you  know.  I  see  you  are  excited.  Has  it  come  back 
to  you  again  ?  " 


358  THE  CRIMSON  BLIND. 

"  That's  the  scent,"  Van  Sneck  cried.  "  The  air 
wzs  full  of  that  as  I  fell  backwards.  And  Henson  stood 
over  me  exactly  by  that  cracked  tile  where  Mr.  Steel 
is  now.  Give  me  a  moment  and  I  shall  be  able  to  tell 
you  everything,  .  .  .  Oh,  yes,  the  first  time  I  slipped 
on  purpose.  I  told  you  I  stumbled.  But  that  was  a 
ruse.  And  as  I  fell  I  took  the  ring  from  my  waistcoat- 
pocket.  .  .  .  Let  me  have  another  sniff  of  that  bloom. 
Yes,  I've  got  it  now  quite  clear." 

"  You  know  where  the  ring  is  ?  "  David  asked,  eagerly. 

"  Well,  not  quite  that.  I  took  it  from  my  pocket 
and  pitched  it  away  from  me  ...  I  saw  it  fall  on  to  a 
pot  covered  with  moss,  but  I  can't  say  which  pot  or  in 
which  corner.  I  only  know  that  I  threw  it  over  my 
shoulder,  and  that  it  dropped  into  the  thick  moss  that 
lies  on  the  top  of  all  the  pots.  I  laughed  to  myself  as 
it  fell,  and  I  rejoiced  to  see  that  Henson  knew  nothing 
of  it." 

"  And  it  is  still  here  ?  "  Bell  demanded. 

Van  Sneck  nodded  solemnly. 

"  I  swear  it,"  he  said.  "  Prince  Rupert's  ring  is  ia 
this  conservatory." 


CHAPTER   LV. 

KICKED   OUT. 

Reginald  Henson  had  had  more  than  one  unpleasant 
surprise  lately,  but  none  so  painful  as  the  sight  of  Lord 
Littimer  seated  in  the  Longdean  Grange  drawing-room 
with  the  air  of  a  man  who  is  very  much  at  home  indeed. 

The  place  was  strangely  changed,  too.  There  was  an 
air  of  neatness  and  order  about  the  room  that  Henson 
had  never  seen  before.  The  dust  and  dirt  had  absolutely 
vanished  ;  it  might  have  been  the  home  of  any  ordinary 
wealthy  and  refined  people.  And  all  Lady  Littimer's 
rags  and  patches  had  disappeared.  She  was  dressed 
in  somewhat  old-fashioned  style,  but  handsomely  and 
well.  She  sat  beside  Littimer  with  a  smile  on  her  face. 
But  the  cloud  seemed  to  have  rolled  from  her  mind  ; 
her  eyes  were  clear,  if  a  little  frightened.  From  the 
glance  that  passed  between  Littimer  and  herself  it  was 
easy  to  see  that  the  misunderstanding  was  no  more. 

"  You  are  surprised  to  see  me  here  ?  "  said  Littimer. 

Henson  stammered  out  something  and  shrank  towards, 
the  door.  Littimer  ordered  him  back  again.  He  came 
with  a  slinking,  dogged  air  ;  he  avoided  the  smiling 
contempt  in  Enid's  eyes. 

"  My  presence  appears  to  be  superfluous,"  he  said, 
bitterly. 

"  And  mine  appears  to  be  a  surprise,"  Littimer  replied, 
"  Come,  are  you  not  glad  to  see  me,  my  heir  and  suc- 
cessor ?     What  has  become  of  the  old  fawning,  cringing 

359 


36«  THE  CRIMSON  BLIND- 

smile  ?  Why,  if  some  of  your  future  constituents  could 
see  you  now  they  might  be  justii'ied  in  imagining  that 
you  had  done  something  wrong.     Look  at  yourself." 

Littimer  indicated  a  long  gilt  mirror  on  the  opposite 
wall.  Henson  glanced  at  it  involuntarily  and  dropped 
his  eyes.  Could  that  abject,  wliite-faced  sneak  be 
himself  ?  Was  that  the  man  whose  fine  presence  and 
tender  smile  had  channed  thousands  ?  It  seemed 
impossible. 

"  What  have  I  done  ?  "  he  asked. 

"  What  have  you  not  done  ?  "  Littimer  thundered. 
"  In  the  first  place  you  did  your  best  to  ruin  Hatherly 
Bell's  life.  You  robbed  me  of  a  picture  to  do  so,  and 
your  friend  Merritt  tried  to  rob  me  again.  But  I  have 
both  those  pictures  now.  You  did  that  because  you 
were  afraid  of  Bell — afraid  lest  he  should  see  through 
your  base  motives.  And  you  succeeded  for  a  time,  for 
the  coast  was  clear.  And  then  you  proceeded  to  rob 
me  of  my  son  by  one  of  the  most  contemptible  tricks 
ever  pdayed  by  one  man  on  another.  It  was  you  who 
stole  the  money  and  the  ring  ;  you  who  brought  about 
all  that  sorrow  and  trouble  by  means  of  a  forgery.  But 
there  are  other  people  on  your  track  as  well  as  myself. 
You  were  at  your  last  gasp.  You  were  coming  to  see 
me  to  sell  that  ring  for  a  large  sum  to  take  you  out  of  the 
country,  and  then  you  discovered  that  you  hadn't  really 
got  the  ring." 

"  What — what  are  you  talking  about  ? "  Henson 
asked,  feebly. 

"  Scoundrel  !  "  Littimer  cried.  "  Innocent  and  pure 
to  the  last.  I  know  all  about  Van  Sneck  and  those 
forgeries  of  Prince  Rupert's  ring.  And  I  know  how 
Van  Sneck  was  nearly  done  to  death  in  Mr.  Steel's 
house  ;  and  I  know  why — good  heavens  !  It  seems 
impossible  that  I  could  have  been  deceived  all  these 
years  by  such  a  slimy,  treacherous  scoundrel.  And  I 
might  have  gone  on  still  but  for  a  woman " 

"  A  lady  detective,"  Henson  sneered.     "  Miss  Lee." 

Littimer  smiled.  It  was  good,  after  all,  to  defeat 
and  hoodwink  the  rascal. 

"  Miss  Chris  Henson,"  he  said.     "  It  never  occurred 


KICKED  OUT.  561 

to  you  that  Miss  Chris  and  Miss  Lee  were  one  and  the 
same  person.  You  never  guessed.  And  she  played 
with  yuu  as  if  you  had  been  a  child.  How  beautifully 
she  exposed  you  over  those  pictures.  Ah,  you  should 
have  seen  your  face  when  you  saw  the  stolen  Rembrandt 
back  again  in  its  place.  And  after  that  you  were  mad 
enough  to  think  that  I  tiiisted  you.  My  dear,  what 
shall  we  do  with  this  pretty  fellow  ?  " 

Lady  Littimer  shook  her  head  doubtfully.  It  was 
plain  that  the  presence  of  Henson  disturbed  her.  There 
was  just  a  suggestion  of  the  old  madness  in  her  eyes. 

"  Send  him  away,"  she  said.     "  Let  him  go." 

"  Send  him  away  by  all  means,"  Littimer  went  on. 
"  But  letting  him  go  is  another  matter.  If  we  do  the 
police  will  pick  him  up  on  other  charges.  There  is  a 
certain  consolation  in  knowing  that  his  evil  career  is 
likely  to  be  shortened  by  some  years.  But  I  shall 
have  no  mercy.  Scotland  Yard  shall  know  every- 
thing." 

There  was  a  cold  ring  in  Littimer's  voice  that  told 
Henson  of  his  determination  to  carry  out  his  threat. 
The  other  troubles  he  might  wriggle  out  of,  but  this  one 
was  terribly  real.     It  was  time  to  try  conciliation. 

"  It  will  be  a  terrible  scandal  for  the  family,  my 
lord,"  he  whined. 

Littimer  rose  to  his  feet.  A  sudden  anger  flared  into 
his  eyes.  He  was  a  smaller  man  than  Henson,  but  the 
latter  cowed  before  him. 

"  You  dog  !  "  he  cried.  "  What  greater  scandal  than 
that  of  the  past  few  years  ?  Does  not  all  the  world 
know  that  there  is,  or  has  been,  some  heavy  cloud  over 
the  family  honour  ?  Lord  and  Lady  Littimer  have 
parted,  and  her  ladj'shiji  has  gone  away.  That  is  only 
part  of  what  the  gossii)S  have  said.  And  in  these 
domestic  differences  it  is  always  the  woman  wlio  suffers. 
Everybody  alwa\s  says  that  the  woman  has  done  some- 
thing wrong.  I'or  years  my  wife  has  been  under  this 
stif  ma.  If  she  had  chosen  to  keep  before  the  world  after 
Bh;  left  me  most  peoi>le  would  have  ignored  her.  And 
you  talk  to  me  of  a  family  scandal  !  " 

"  You  will  only  make  bad  worse,  my  lord.** 


3^2  THE  CRIMSON   BLIND. 

"  No,"  Littimer  cried.  "  I  am  going  to  make  bad 
infinitely  better.  We  come  together  again,  but  we  say 
nothing  of  the  past.  And  the  world  sneers  and  says 
the  past  is  ignored  for  pohtic  considerations.  And  so 
the  public  is  going  to  know  the  truth,  you  dog.  The. 
whole  facts  of  the  case  have  gone  to  my  solicitcr,  and 
by  this  time  to-morrow  a  warrant  will  be  issued  against 
you.  And  I  shall  stand  in  open  court  and  tell  the  whole 
world  my  story." 

"  In  fairness  to  Lady  Littimer,"  said  Enid,  speaking 
for  the  first  time,  "  you  could  do  no  less." 

"  You  were  always  against  me,"  Henson  snarled. 

"  Because  I  always  knew  you,"  said  Enid.  "  And 
the  more  I  knew  of  you  the  greater  was  my  contempt. 
And  you  came  here  ever  on  the  same  errand — money, 
money,  money.  From  first  to  last  you  have  robbed 
my  aunt  of  something  like  £70,000.  And  always  by 
threats  or  the  promise  that  you  would  some  day  restore 
the  ring  to  the  family." 

"  As  to  the  ring,"  Henson  protested,  "  I  swear " 

"  I  suppose  a  he  more  or  less  makes  no  difference  to 
an  expert  like  yourself,"  Enid  went  on,  with  cold  con- 
tempt. "  You  took  advantage  of  my  aunt's  misfortunes. 
Ah,  she  is  a  different  woman  since  Lord  Littimer  came 
here.  But  her  sorrow  has  crushed  her  down,  and  that 
forgery  of  the  ring  you  dangled  before  her  eyes  deceived 
her." 

"  I  never  showed  her  the  ring,"  Henson  said,  brazenly. 

"  And  you  can  look  me  in  the  face  and  say  that  ? 
One  night  Lady  Littimer  snatched  it  from  you  and  ran 
into  the  garden.  You  followed  and  struggled  for  the 
ring.  And  Mr.  David  Steel,  who  stood  close  by,  fellei 
you  to  the  earth  with  a  blow  on  the  side  of  your  head. 
I  wonder  he  didn't  kill  you.  I  should  have  done  so  in 
his  place.  And  yet  it  would  be  a  pity  to  hang  anyone 
for  your  death.     See  here  !  " 

Enid  produced  the  ring  from  her  pocket.  Lord 
Littimer  looked  at  it  intently. 

"  Have  you  seen  this  before,  my  dear  ?  "  he  asked 
his  vnfe. 

"  Many  a  time,"  Lady  Littimer  said,  sadly.    "  Take 


KICKED  OUT.  363 

it  away,  it  reminds  me  of  too  many  bitter  memories. 
Take  it  out  of  my  sight." 

"  An  excellent  forgery,"  Littimer  murmured.  "  A 
forgery  calculated  to  deceive  many  experts  even.  I 
will  compare  it  with  the  original  by  and  by." 

Henson  listened  with  a  sinking  feeling  at  his  heart. 
Was  it  possible,  he  wondered,  that  Lord  Littimer  had 
reaUy  recovered  the  original  ?  He  had  had  hopes  of 
getting  it  back  even  now,  and  making  it  the  basis  of 
terms  of  surrender.  Lady  Littimer  snatched  the  ring 
from  Littimer's  grasp  and  threw  it  through  the  open 
window  into  the  garden. 

She  stood  up  facing  Henson,  her  head  thrown  back, 
her  eyes  flaming  with  a  new  resolution.  It  seemed 
hardly  possible  to  believe  that  this  fine,  handsome 
woman  with  the  white  hair  could  be  the  poor  demented 
creature  that  the  others  once  had  known. 

"  Reginald  Henson,  listen  to  me,"  she  cried.  "  For 
your  own  purpose  you  cruelly  and  deliberately  set  out 
to  wreck  the  happiness  of  several  lives.  For  mere 
money  you  did  this  ;  for  sheer  love  of  dissipation  you 
committed  this  crime.  You  nearly  deprived  me  of  my 
reason.  I  say  nothing  about  the  money,  because  that 
is  nothing  by  comparison.  But  the  years  that  are  lost 
can  never  come  back  to  me  again.     When  I  think  of  the 

fast  and  the  past  of  my  poor,  unhappy  boy  I  feel  that 
have  no  forgiveness  for  you.     If  you Oh,  go  away  ; 

don't  stay  here — go.  If  I  had  known  you  were  coming 
I  should  have  forbidden  you  the  house.  Your  mere 
presence  unnerves  me.     Littimer,  send  him  away." 

Littimer  rose  to  his  feet  and  rang  the  bell. 

"  You  wUl  be  good  enough  to  rid  me  of  your  hateful 
presence,"  he  said,  "  at  once  ;    now  go." 

Put  Henson  still  stood  irresolute.  He  fidgeted  from 
one  foot  to  the  other.  He  seemed  to  have  some  trouble 
that  he  could  find  no  expression  for. 

"  I  want  to  go  away,"  he  murmured.  "  I  want  to 
leave  the  country.  But  at  the  present  moment  I  am 
practically  penniless.     If  you  would  advance  me " 

Littimer  laughed  aloud. 

*'  Upon  my  word,"  he  said,  "  your  coolness  i*  colossaL 


364  THE  CRIMSON  BLINa 

I  am  going  to  prosecute  you.  I  am  doing  my  best  t« 
bring  you  into  the  dock.  And  you  ask  me — me,  of  all 
men — to  find  you  money  so  that  you  can  evade  justice  ! 
Have  you  not  had  enough — are  you  never  satisfied  ? 
Williams,  will  you  see  Mr.  Henson  off  the  premises  ?  " 

The  smiling  Williams  bowed  low. 

"  With  the  greatest  possible  pleasure,  my  lord,  ho 
said.     "  Any  further  orders,  my  lord  ?  " 

"  And  he  is  not  to  come  here  again,  you  understand." 
Williams  seemed  to  understand  perfectly.  With  one 
backward  sullen  glance  Henson  quitted  the  r  )om  and 
passed  into  the  night  with  his  companion.  Williams 
was  whistling  cheerfully,  with  his  hands  thrust  deep 
into  his  pockets. 

"  Is  that  how  you  treat  a  gentleman  ? "  Henson 
demanded. 

"  I  ain't  a  gentleman,"  WiUiams  said.  "  Never  set 
up  to  be.  And  I  ain't  a  dirty  rascal  who  has  just  been 
kicked  out  of  a  nobleman's  house.  Here,  stop  that. 
Try  that  game  on  again  and  I'll  call  the  dogs.  And 
don't  show  me  any  of  your  airs,  please.  I'm  only  a 
servant,  but  I  am  an  honest  man." 

Henson  stifled  his  anger  as  best  he  could.  He  was 
too  miserable  and  downcast  to  think  of  much  besides 
himself  at  present.  Once  tlie  lodge-gates  were  open, 
Williams  stood  aside  for  him  to  pass.  The  temptation 
was  irresistible.  And  Henson's  back  was  turned.  With 
a  kick  of  concentrated  contempt  and  fury  Willi;im5  shot 
Henson  into  the  road,  where  he  landed  full  on  his  lace. 
His  cup  of  humiliation  was  complete. 


CHAPTER   LVL 

WHITE    FANGS. 

Hknson  took  his  weary  way  in  the  direction  of  Brighton. 
He  had  but  a  few  pounds  he  could  call  his  own,  and  not 
nearly  enough  to  get  away  from  the  country,  and  at  any 
moment  he  might  be  arrested.  He  was  afraid  to  go 
back  to  his  lodgings  for  fear  of  Merritt.  That  Merritt 
would  kill  him  if  he  got  the  chance  he  felt  certain.  And 
Merritt  was  one  of  those  dogged,  patient  types  who  can 
wait  any  time  for  the  gratification  of  their  vengeance. 

Merritt  was  pretty  certain  to  be  hanging  about  for 
his  opportunity.  On  the  whole  the  best  thing  would 
be  to  walk  straight  to  the  Central  Brighton  Station 
ajid  take  the  first  train  in  the  morning  to  town.  There 
he  could  see  Gates — who  as  yet  knew  nothing — and 
from  him  it  would  be  possible  to  borrow  a  hundred  oi 
two,  and  then  get  away.  And  there  were  others  be- 
sides Gates. 

Henson  trudged  away  for  a  mile  or  so  over  the  downs. 
Fhen  he  came  down  from  the  summit  of  the  castle  he 
iras  building  with  a  rude  shock  to  earth  again.  A 
ihadow  seemed  to  rise  from  the  ground,  a  heavy  clutch 
iras  on  his  shoulder,  and  a  hoarse  voice  was  in  his  ear. 

"  Got  you  !  "  the  voice  said.  "  I  knew  they'd  kick 
you  out  yonder,  and  I  guessed  you'd  sneak  home  across 
the  downs.     And  I've  fairly  copped  you  !  " 

Henson's  knees  knocked  together.  Physically  he 
was  a  far  stronger  and  bigger  man  than  Merritt,  but  he 

365 


366  THE  CRIMSON   BLIND. 

was  taken  unawares,  and  his  nerves  had  been  sadly 

shaken  of  late. 

Merritt  forced  him  backwards  until  he  lay  on  the  turf 
with  his  antiigonist  kneeling  on  his  chest.  He  dared 
not  struggle,  he  dared  not  exert  himself.  Presently  he 
might  get  a  chance,  and  if  he  did  it  would  go  hard  with 
James  Merritt. 

"  What  are  you  going  to  do  ?  "  he  gasped. 

Merritt  drew  a  big,  jagged  stone  towards  him  with 
one  foot. 

"  I'm  going  to  bash  your  brains  out  with  this,"  he 
said,  hoarsely.  His  eyes  were  gleaming,  and  in  the  dim 
light  his  mouth  was  set  like  a  steel  trap.  "  I'm  going 
to  have  a  little  chat  with  you  first,  and  then  down  this 
comes  on  the  top  of  your  skull,  and  it'll  smash  you  like 
a  bloomin'  eggshell.  Your  time's  come,  Henson.  Say 
your  prayers." 

"  I  can't,"  Henson  whined.  "  And  what  have  I 
done  ?  " 

Merritt  rocked  heavily  on  the  other's  breastbone, 
almost  stifling  him.  "  Wot  ? "  he  said,  scoffingly. 
The  pleasing  mixture  of  gin  and  fog  in  his  throat  rendered 
him  more  hideously  hoarse  than  usual.  "  Not  make 
up  a  prayer  I  And  you  a  regular  dab  at  all  that  game  ! 
Why,  I've  seen  the  women  snivellin'  like  babbies  when 
you've  been  ladlin'  it  out.  Heavens,  what  a  chap  you 
would  be  on  the  patter  I  How  you  would  kid  the 
chaplain  !  " 

"  Merritt,  you're  crushing  the  life  out  of  me." 

Merritt  ceased  his  rocking  for  a  moment,  and  the 
laughter  died  out  of  his  gleaming  eyes. 

"  I  don't  want  to  be  prematoor,"  he  said.  "  Yes, 
you'd  make  a  lovely  chaplain's  pet,  but  I  can't  spare 
you.  I'm  going  to  smash  that  'ere  wily  brain  of  yours, 
so  as  it  won't  be  useful  any  more.  I'll  teach  you  to  put 
the  narks  on  to  a  poor  chap  like  myself." 

"  Merritt,  I  swear  to  you  that  I  never " 

"  You  can  swear  till  you're  black  in  the  face,  and  you 
can  keep  on  swearing  till  you're  lily-white  again,  and 
then  it  won't  be  any  good.  You  gave  me  away  to 
Taylor  because  you  were  afraid  I  should  do  you  harm 


WHITE    FANGS.  367 

at  Littimer  Castle.  That  Daisy  Bell  of  at  girl  there 
told  me  so." 

Henson  groaned.  It  was  not  the  least  part  of  hia 
humiliation  that  a  mere  girl  got  the  better  of  him  in 
this  way.  And  what  on  earth  had  she  known  of  Reuben 
Taylor  ?  But  the  fact  remained  that  she  had  known, 
and  that  she  had  warned  Merritt  of  his  danger.  It  was 
the  one  unpardonable  crime  in  Henson's  decalogue,  the 
one  thing  Merritt  could  not  forgive. 

Henson's  time  was  come.  He  did  not  need  anyone 
to  tell  him  that.  Unless  something  in  the  nature  of  a 
miracle  happened,  he  was  a  dead  man  in  a  few  moments  ; 
and  life  had  never  seemed  quite  so  sweet  as  it  tasted 
at  the  present  time. 

"  You  gave  me  away  for  no  reason  at  all,"  Merritt 
went  on.  "  I'm  a  pretty  bad  lot,  but  I  never  rounded 
on  a  pal  yet,  and  never  shall.  More  than  one  of  them 
have  served  me  bad,  but  I  always  let  them  go  their  own 
way,  and  I've  been  a  good  and  faithful  servant  to 
you " 

"  It  was  not  you,"  Henson  gurgled,  "  that  I  wrote 
that  letter  about,  but " 

"  Chuck  it,"  Merritt  said,  furiously.  "  Tell  me  any 
more  of  your  lies  and  I'll  smash  your  jaw  in  for  you* 
It  was  me.  I  spotted  Scotter  in  Morcton  Wells  within 
a  day  or  two.  And  Mr.  Scotter  had  come  for  me.  And 
I  got  past  Bronson  in  Brighton  by  the  skin  of  my  teeth. 
I  turned  into  your  lodgings  under  his  very  eyes  almost. 
Before  this  time  to-morrow  I  shall  be  arrested.  But 
I'm  going  to  have  my  vengeance  first." 

The  last  words  came  with  intense  deliberation.  There 
was  no  mistaking  their  significance.  Henson  deemed 
it  wise  to  try  another  tack. 

"  I^was  wrong,"  he  said,  humbly.  "  I  am  very,  very 
Borry ;  I  lost  my  nerve  and  got  frightened,  Merritt, 
But  there  is  time  yet.  You  always  make  more  money 
with  me  than  with  anybody  else.  And  I'm  going 
abroad  presently." 

"  Oil,  you're  going  abroad,  are  you  ?  "  Merritt  said, 
slowly.  "  Going  to  travel  in  a  Pull  man  car  and  put  up 
at  all  the  Courts  of  Europe.    And  I'm  coming  as  chief 


3^8  THE  CRIMSON  BLIND, 

secretary  to  the  Grand  Panjandrum  himself.     Sounds 
an  alluring  kind  of  programme." 

"  I'll  give  you  a  hundred  pounds  to  get  away  with 

if  you  will " 

Got  a  hundred  pounds  of  my  own  in  my  pocket 
at  the  present  moment,"  was  the  unexpected  reply. 
"  As  you  gave  me  away,  consequently  I  gave  you  away 
to  his  lordship,  and  he  planked  down  a  hundred  canaries 
like  the  swell  that  he  is.  So  I  don't  want  your  com- 
pany or  your  money.  And  I'm  going  to  finish  you 
right  away." 

The  big  stone  was  poised  over  Henson's  head.  He 
could  see  the  jagged  part,  and  in  imagination  feel  it  go 
smashing  into  his  brain.  The  time  for  action  had  come. 
He  snatched  at  Merritt's  right  arm  and  drew  tiie  knotted 
fingers  down.  The  next  instant  and  he  had  bitten 
Merritt's  thumb  to  the  bone.  With  a  cry  of  rage  and 
pain  the  stone  was  dropped.  Henson  snatched  it  up 
and  fairly  lifted  Merritt  off  his  chest  with  a  blow  under 
the  chin. 

Merritt  rolled  over  on  the  grass,  and  Henson  was  on 
his  feet  in  an  instant.  The  great  stone  went  down 
perilously  near  to  Merritt's  head.  Still  snarling  and 
frothing  from  the  pain  Merritt  stumbled  to  his  feet  and 
dashed  a  blow  blindly  at  the  other. 

In  point  of  size  and  strength  there  was  only  one  in  it. 
Had  Henson  stood  up  to  his  opponent  on  equal  terms 
there  could  only  have  been  one  issue.  But  his  nerves 
were  shattered,  he  was  nothing  like  the  man  he  had 
been  two  months  ago.  At  the  first  onslaught  he  turned 
and  fled  towards  the  town,  leaving  Merritt  standing 
there  in  blank  amazement. 

"  Frightened  of  me,"  he  muttered.  "  But  this  ain't 
the  way  it's  going  to  finish." 

He  darted  off  in  hot  pursuit ;  he  raced  across  a  rising 
shoulder  of  the  hill  and  cut  off  Henson's  retreat.  The 
latter  turned  and  scurried  back  in  the  direction  of  Long- 
dean  Grange,  with  Merritt  hot  on  his  heels.  He  could 
not  shake  the  latter  off. 

Merritt  was  plodding  doggedly  on,  pretty  sure  of  his 
game.    He  was  hard  as  nails,  whereas  good  living  and 


WHITE  FANGS.  36^ 

a  deal  of  drinking,  quite  in  a  gentlemanly  way,  had  told 
heavily  on  Henson.  Unless  help  came  unexpectedly 
Henson  was  still  in  dire  peril.  There  was  just  a  chance 
that  a  villager  might  be  about ;  but  Longdean  was  more 
or  less  a  primitive  place,  and  most  of  the  houses  there 
had  been  in  darkness  for  hours. 

His  foot  slipped,  he  stcmbled,  and  Merritt,  with  a 
whoop  of  triumph,  was  nearly  upon  him.  But  it  was 
only  a  stagger,  and  he  was  soon  going  again.  Still, 
Merritt  was  close  behind  him  ;  Henson  could  almost 
feel  his  hot  breath  on  his  neck.  And  he  was  breathing 
heavily  and  distressfully  himself,  whilst  he  could  hear 
how  steadily  Merritt's  lungs  were  working.  He  could 
see  the  lights  of  Longdean  Grange  below  him  ;  but  they 
seemed  a  long  way  off,  whilst  that  steady  pursuit  behind 
had  something  relentless  and  nerve-destroying  about  it. 

They  were  pounding  through  the  village  now.  Henson 
gave  vent  to  one  cry  of  distress,  but  nothing  came  of 
it  but  the  mocking  echo  of  his  own  voice  from  a  chstant 
belt  of  trees.  Merritt  shot  out  a  short,  sneering  laugh. 
He  had  not  expected  flagrant  cowardice  like  thus.  He 
made  a  sudden  spurt  forward  and  caught  Henson  by 
the  tail  of  his  coat. 

With  a  howl  of  fear  the  latter  tore  himself  away,  and 
Merritt  reeled  backwards.  He  came  down  heavily  over 
a  big  stone,  and  at  the  same  moment  Henson  trod  on  a 
hedge-stake.  He  grabbed  it  up  and  half  turned  upon 
his  foe.  But  the  sight  of  Merritt's  grim  face  was  too 
much  for  him,  and  he  turned  and  resumed  his  flight 
once  more. 

He  yelle<i  again  as  he  reached  the  lodge-gates,  but 
the  only  response  was  the  barking  and  howling  of  the 
dogs  in  the  thick  underwood  beyond.  There  was  no 
help  for  it.  Doubtless  the  di?af  old  lodge-keeper  had 
been  in  bed  hours  ago.  Even  the  dogs  were  preferable 
to  MerritL  Henson  scrambled  headlong  over  the  wall 
and  craslied  through  the  thickets  beyond. 

Merritt  pulled  up,  panting  with  his  exertion. 

"  Gone  to  cover,"  he  muttered.  "  I  don't  fancy  I'll 
lollow.  The  dogs  there  mi.'^ht  have  a  weakness  for 
tearing  my  throat  out,  and  Henson  will  keep.     I'll  just 

AA 


37«  THE  CRIMSON   BLIND. 

hang  about  here  till  daylight  and  wait  for  my  gcntlemaa* 
And  I'll  follow  him  to  the  end  of  the  earth." 

Meanwhile  Henson  blundered  on  blindly,  fully  under 
the  impression  that  Merritt  was  stiU  upon  his  trail. 
One  of  the  hounds,  a  puppy  three  parts  grown,  rose  and 
playfully  pulled  at  his  coat.  It  was  sheer  play,  but  at 
the  same  time  it  was  a  terrible  handicap,  and  in  his  fear 
Henson  lost  all  his  horror  of  the  dogs. 

"  Loose,  you  brute,"  he  panted.  "  Let  go,  I  say. 
Very  weU,  take  that !  " 

He  paused  and  brought  the  heavy  stake  down  full 
on  the  dog's  muzzle.  There  was  a  snarling  scream  of 
pain,  and  the  big  pup  sprang  for  his  assailant.  An  old, 
grey  hound  came  up  and  seemed  to  take  in  the  situation 
at  a  glance.  With  a  deep  growl  he  bounded  at  Henson 
and  caught  him  by  the  throat.  Before  the  ponderous 
impact  of  that  fine  free  spring  Henson  went  down 
heavily  to  the  ground. 

"  Help  !  "  he  gurgled.     "  Help  !   help  !   help  !  " 

The  worrying  teeth  had  been  firmly  fixed,  the  pon- 
derous weight  pressed  all  the  breath  from  Henson's 
distressed  lungs.  He  gurgled  once  again,  gave  a  little 
shuddering  sigh,  and  the  world  dwindled  to  a  thick 
sheet  of  blinding  darkness. 


CHAPTER    LVII 

HIDE-AND-SKEK. 

Bell's  professional  enthusiasm  got  the  better  of  his 
curiosity  for  the  moment.  It  was  a  nice  psychological 
problem.  Already  Steel  was  impulsively  busy  in  the 
conservatory  pulling  the  pots  down.  It  was  a  regretful 
thing  to  have  to  do,  but  everything  had  to  be  sacrificed, 
David  shut  his  teeth  grimly  and  proceeded  with  his  task. 

"  What  on  earth  are  you  doing  ?  "  Bell  asked,  with 
ft  smile. 

"  Pulling  the  place  to  pieces,"  David  responded. 
•*  I  daresay  I  shall  feel  pretty  sick  about  it  later  on,  but 
the  thing  has  to  be  done.  Cut  those  wires  for  me,  and 
let  those  creepers  down  as  tenderly  as  possible.  We 
can't  get  to  the  little  pots  until  we  have  moved  the  big 
ones." 

Bell  coolly  declined  to  do  anything  of  the  kind.  He 
surveyed  the  two  graceful  banks  of  flowers  there,  the 
carefully  trained  creepers  trailing  so  naturally  and  yet 
so  artistically  from  the  roof  to  the  ground,  and  the  sight 
pleased  him. 

"  My  dear  chap,"  he  said,  "  I  am  not  going  to  sit  here 
and  allow  you  to  destroy  the  work  of  so  many  hours. 
There  is  not  the  slightest  reason  to  disturb  anything. 
Unless  I  am  greatly  mistaken,  Van  Sneck  will  lay  his 
had  upon  the  ring  fc"  us  witliout  so  much  as  the  sacrifice 
of  a  blossom." 

"  I  don't  fancy  so,"  Van  Sneck  replied.  **  I  can't 
remember." 


37*  THE  CRIMSON   BLIND. 

"  Well,  you  are  going  to,"  Bell  said,  cheerfully.  "  Did 
you  ever  hear  of  artificial  memory  ?  " 

"  The  sort  of  thing  you  get  in  law  courts  and  political 
speeches  ?  "  David  suggested.  "  All  the  same,  if  you 
have  some  patent  way  of  getting  at  the  facts  I  shall  be 
only  too  glad  to  spare  my  poor  flowers.  Their  training 
has  been  a  labour  of  love  with  me." 

Bell  smoked  on  quietly  for  some  time.  He  toyed 
with  the  red  blossoms  which  had  so  stimulated  Van 
Sneck's  recollection,  then  tossed  a  spray  over  to  Van 
Sneck  and  suggested  that  the  latter  should  put  it  in 
his  button-hole. 

"  So  as  to  have  the  fragrance  with  you  all  the  time," 
he  said. 

Van  Sneck  obeyed  quietly,  remarking  that  the  scent 
was  very  pungent.  The  Dutchman  was  restless  and  ill 
at  ease  ;  he  seemed  to  be  dissatisfied  with  himself — 
he  had  the  air  of  a  man  who  has  set  out  vnth  two  or 
three  extremely  important  matters  of  business  and  who 
has  completely  forgotten  what  one  of  them  is. 

"  You  needn't  distress  yourself,"  David  said,  kindly. 

"  I  beg  your  pardon,"  Bell  said,  tartly.  "  He  is  to 
do  that  very  same  thing.  Mental  exercise  never  hurts 
anybody.  Van  Sneck  is  going  to  worry  till  he  puzzles 
it  out.     Will  you  describe  the  ring  to  us  ?  " 

The  Dutchman  complied  at  considerable  length. 
He  dwelt  on  the  beauty  of  the  workmanship  and  the 
exceeding  fineness  of  the  black  pearls  ;  he  talked  with 
the  freedom  and  expression  of  the  expert.  Bell  per- 
mitted him  to  ramble  on  about  historic  rings  in  general. 
But  all  the  same  he  could  see  that  Van  Sneck  was  far 
from  easy  in  his  mind.  Now  and  then  a  sudden  gleam 
came  into  his  eyes  :  memory  played  for  the  fragment 
of  a  second  on  a  certain  elusive  chord  and  was  gone. 

"  Were  you  smoking  the  night  you  came  here  ? " 
Bell  asked,  suddenly. 

"  Yes,"  Van  Sneck  replied,  "  a  cigarette.  Henson 
handed  it  over  to  me.  I  don't  deny  that  I  was  terribly 
frightened.     I  smoked  the  cigarette  out  of  bravado." 

"  You  went  into  the  conservatory  yonder  and  ad» 
mired  the  flowers,"  Bell  observed. 


HIDE-AND-SEEK.  373 

Van  Snack  looked  up  with  astonishment  and  ad- 
miration. 

"  I  did,"  he  confessed.  "  But  I  don't  see  how  you 
know  that." 

"I  guessed  it.  It  takes  the  brain  some  Httle  time 
to  get  level  to  the  imagination.  And  as  soon  as  you 
came  face  to  face  with  Henson  you  knew  what  was 
going  to  happen.  You  were  a  little  dazed  and  frightened, 
and  a  httle  overcome  by  hquor  into  the  bargain.  But 
even  then,  though  you  were  probably  unconscious  of  it 
yourself,  you  were  seeking  some  place  to  hide  the 
ring." 

"  I  rather  believe  I  was,"  Van  Sneck  said,  thought- 
fully. 

"  You  smoked  a  cigarette  there.  Where  did  you 
put  the  end  ?  " 

Van  Sneck  rose  and  went  into  the  conservatory. 
He  walked  directly  to  a  large  pot  of  stephanotis  in  a 
distant  corner  and  picked  the  stump  of  a  gold-tipped 
cigarette  from  thence. 

"  I  dropped  it  in  there,"  he  said.  "  Strange ;  if 
you  had  asked  me  that  question  two  minutes  ago  I 
should  not  have  been  able  to  answer  it.  And  now  I 
distinctly  remember  pitching  it  in  there  and  watching 
it  scorch  some  of  that  beautiful  lace-like  moss.  There 
is  a  long  trail  of  it  hanging  down  behind.  I  recollect 
how  funnily  it  occurred  to  me,  even  in  the  midst  of  my 
danger,  that  the  trail  would  look  better  brought  over 
the  front  of  the  pot.     Thus." 

He  lifted  the  long,  graceful  spiral  and  brought  it 
forward.     Steel  nodded,  approvingly. 

"  I  came  very  near  to  dropping  the  ring  in  there,' 
Van  Sneck  explained.  "  I  had  it  in  my  fingers — I  took 
it  for  the  purpose  from  my  waistcoat-pocket.  Then  I 
saw  Hcnson's  eye  on  me  and  I  changed  my  mind.  I 
wish  I  had  been  more  sober." 

Bell  was  examining  a  pot  a  little  lower  down.  A 
piece  had  been  chii-pcd  off,  leaving  a  sharp,  clean,  red 
edge  with  a  tiny  tip  of  hair  upon  it. 

"  You  fell  here,"  he  exclaimed.  "  Your  head  struck 
the  pot.     Here  b  a  fragment  of  your  hair  on  it.     It  ia 


374  THE  CRIMSON   BLIND. 

human  hair  beyond  a  doubt,  and  the  shade  matches  to 
a  nicety.     After  that " 

A  sudden  cry  broke  from  the  Dutchman. 

"  I've  got  it !  "  he  exclaimed.  "  You  have  cleveily 
led  my  mind  into  the  right  direction.  The  only  mcrvd 
is  that  I  did  not  think  of  it  before.  You  will  find  the 
rinc;  in  the  pot  where  the  tuberose  grows.  I  am  quite 
certain  you  will  find  it  amongst  the  moss  at  the  base." 

David  carefully  scooped  up  all  the  loose  moss  from 
the  pot  and  laid  it  on  the  study  table.  Then  he  shook 
the  stuff  out,  and  something  glittering  lay  on  the  table — 
a  heavy  ring  of  the  most  exquisite  and  cunning  work- 
manship, with  a  large  gem  in  the  centre,  flanked  by 
black  pearls  on  either  side.  Van  Sneck  took  it  in  his 
fingers  lovingly. 

"  Here  you  are,"  he  said.  "  Ach,  the  beauty  !  Well, 
you've  got  it  now,  and  do  you  take  care  of  it  lest  it  falls 
into  my  hands  again.  If  I  got  a  chance  I  would  steal 
it  once  more,  and  yet  again,  and  again.  Ah,  what 
mischief  those  things  cause,  to  be  sure  !  " 

The  speaker  hardly  knew  how  much  mischief  the  ring 
in  question  had  caused,  nor  did  his  companions  seek  to 
enlighten  him.  David  wrapped  it  up  carefully  and 
placed  it  in  his  pocket. 

"  I'm  glad  that  is  settled,"  he  said.  "  And  I'm  glad 
that  I  didn't  have  to  injure  my  flowers.  Bell,  you 
really  are  a  most  wonderful  fellow." 

Bell  smiled  with  the  air  of  a  man  who  is  well  satisfied 
with  himself.  At  this  moment  a  servant  came  in  with 
a  message  to  the  effect  that  Inspector  Marley  desired 
to  see  Mr.  Steel  on  important  business. 

"  Couldn't  have  come  at  a  better  time,"  David  mur- 
mured.    "  Ask  Mr.  Marley  in  here." 

Marley  came  smilingly,  yet  mysterious.  He  evinced 
no  surprise  at  the  sight  of  Van  Sneck.  He  was,  doubt- 
less, aware  of  the  success  of  the  operation  on  the  latter. 
He  particularly  desired  to  know  where  Mr.  Reginald 
Henson  was  to  be  found. 

"  This  is  a  queer  place  to  look  for  him,"  said  Steel. 

"  But  he  was  here  yesterday,"  Marley,  protested. 
"  He  had  an  accident" 


HIDE-AND-SEEK.  375 

•*  Bogus,"  said  Steel.  "  We  turned  him  out  of  the 
house.     Is  he  wanted  ?  " 

Marley  explained  that  he  was  wanted  on  three  diHerent 
charges  ;  in  fact,  the  inspector  had  the  warrants  in  his 
pocket  at  the  present  moment. 

"  Well,  it's  only  by  good  chance  that  you  haven't 
got  one  for  me,"  David  laughed.  "  If  you  have  ten 
minutes  to  spare,  between  Van  Sneck  and  myself  we 
can  clear  up  the  mystery  of  the  diamond-mounted 
cigar-case  for  you." 

Marley  had  the  time  to  spare,  and,  indeed,  he  was 
keen  enough  to  hear  the  solution  of  the  mystery.  A 
short  explanation  from  David,  followed  by  a  few  pithy, 
pertinent  questions  to  Van  Sneck,  and  he  was  perfectly 
satisfied. 

"  And  yet  I  seemed  to  have  an  ideal  case  against  you, 
Mr.  Steel,"  he  said.  "  Seems  almost  a  pity  to  cut  a 
career  like  Mr.  Henson's  short,  does  it  not  ?  Which 
reminds  me  that  I  am  wasting  time  here.  Any  time 
jrou  and  Van  Sneck  happen  to  be  passing  the  police- 
station  the  cigar-case  is  entirely  at  5'our  disposal." 

And  Marley  bustled  off  upon  the  errand  that  meant 
so  much  for  Reginald  Henson.  He  was  hardly  out  of 
the  house  before  Ruth  Gates  arrived.  She  looked  a 
bttle  distressed  ;  she  would  not  stay  for  a  moment,  she 
declared.  Her  machine  was  outside,  and  she  was  riding 
over  to  Longdean  without  delay.  A  note  had  just  been 
sent  to  her  from  Chris. 

"  My  uncle  is  in  Paris,"  she  said.  "  So  I  am  going 
over  to  Longdean  for  a  few  days.  Lord  Littimer  is 
there,  and  Frank  also.  The  reconciliation  is  complete 
and  absolute.  Chris  says  the  house  is  not  the  same  now, 
and  that  she  didn't  imagine  that  it  could  be  so  cheerful. 
Reginald  Henson " 

"  My  dear  child,  Henson  is  not  there  now." 

"  Well,  he  is.  He  went  there  last  night,  knowing 
that  he  was  at  his  last  gasp,  with  the  idea  of  getting 
more  money  from  Lady  Littimer.  To  his  grort  surprise 
he  found  Littimer  there  also.  It  was  anything  but  a 
pleasant  interview  for  Mr.  Henson,  who  was  finally 
turned  out  of  the  house.     It  is  supposed  that  he  came 


376  THE   CRIMSON  BLINa 

back  again,  for  they  found  him  this  morning  In  the 
grounds  with  une  of  the  dogs  upon  him.  He  is  most 
horribly  hurt,  and  hes  at  the  lodge  in  a  critical  condition. 
I  promised  Chris  that  I  would  bring  a  message  to  you 
from  Lord  Littimer.  He  wants  you  and  Dr.  Bell  to 
come  over  this  afternoon  and  stay  to  dinner." 

"  We'll  come,  with  pleasure,"  David  said.  '  I'll  go 
anywhere  to  have  the  chance  of  a  quiet  hour  with  you, 
Ruth.  So  far  ours  has  been  rather  a  prosaic  wooing. 
And,  besides,  I  shall  want  you  to  coach  me  up  on  my 
interview  with  your  uncle.  You  have  no  idea  how 
nervous  I  am.  And  at  the  last  he  might  refuse  to  accept 
me  for  your  husband." 

Ruth  looked  up  fondly  into  her  lover's  face. 

"  As  if  he  could,"  she  said,  indignantly.  "  As  if  any 
man  could  find  fault  with  you." 

David  drew  the  slender  figure  to  his  side  and  kissed 
the  sweet,  shy  lips. 

"  When  you  are  my  wife,"  he  said,  "  and  come  to 
take  a  closer  and  tenderer  interest  in  my  welfare " 

"  Could  I  take  a  deeper  interest  than  I  do  now, 
David  ?  " 

"  W^eli,  perhaps  not.  But  you  will  find  that  a  good 
many  people  find  fault  with  me.  You  have  no  idea 
what  the  critics  say  sometimes.  They  declare  that  I 
am  an  impostor,  a  copyist ;    they  say  that  I  am " 

"  Let  them  say  what  they  like,"  Ruth  laughed. 
"  That  is  mere  jealousy,  and  anylxidy  can  criticise. 
To  me  you  are  the  greatest  novelist  alive." 

There  was  only  one  answer  to  this,  and  Rath  broke 
away,  declaring  that  she  must  go  at  once. 

"  But  you  will  come  this  afternoon  ? "  she  said. 
"  And  you  will  make  Lord  Littimer  like  you.  Some 
people  say  he  is  queer,  but  I  call  him  an  old  darling." 

"  He  will  like  me,  he  is  bound  to.  I've  got  some- 
thing, a  present  for  him,  that  will  render  him  my  slave 
for  life.     Au  revoir  tUl  the  gloaming." 


The  dew  was  rising  from  the  ginss,  the  silence  of  the 
perfect  morning  was  broken  by  the  uneasy  cries  of  the 


HIDE-AND-SEEK.  377 

dogs.  From  their  strange  whimpering  Williams  felt 
pretty  sure  that  something  was  wrong.  At  most  times 
he  would  have  called  the  dogs  to  him  and  laid  into  them 
with  a  whip,  for  Williams  knew  no  fear,  and  the  hounds 
respected  his  firm  yet  kindly  rule. 

But  Williams  was  in  an  exceptionally  good  temper 
this  morning.  Everything  had  turned  out  as  he  had 
hoped  for  and  anticipated,  and  the  literal  kicking-out 
of  Henson  the  previous  evening  was  still  fresh  and 
sweet  in  his  memory.  It  would  be  something  to  boast 
of  in  his  declining  years. 

"  Drat  the  dc^^s,"  he  exclaimed.  "  Now,  what's  the 
matter  ?  I  had  better  go  and  see.  Got  a  fox  in  a  hole, 
perhaps  !     We  shall  have  to  tie  'em  up  in  future." 

Williams  darted  into  the  thicket.  Then  he  came 
full  upon  Henson,  lying  on  his  back,  with  his  white,  un- 
conscious face  and  staring  ej^es  turned  to  the  sky,  and 
two  great  dogs  fussing  uneasily  about  him.  A  big  pup 
close  by  had  a  large  swelling  on  his  head.  By  Henson's 
side  lay  the  ash  stick  he  had  picked  up  when  pursued 
by  Merritt. 

Williams  bent  over  the  stark,  still  figure  and  shud- 
dered as  he  saw  how  his  clothing  was  all  torn  away 
from  the  body  ;  saw  the  deep  wounds  in  the  chest  and 
throat ;  he  could  see  that  Henson  still  breathed.  His 
loud  shouts  for  assistance  brought  Frank  Littimer  and 
the  lodge-keeper  to  the  spot.  Together  they  carried 
the  body  to  the  lodge  and  sent  for  the  doctor. 

"  The  case  is  absolutely  hopeless,"  Walker  said, 
after  he  had  made  his  examination.  "  The  poor  fellow 
may  linger  till  the  morning,  but  I  doubt  if  he  will  recog- 
nise anybody  again.  Docs  anybody  know  how  the 
thing  came  about  ?  " 

Nobody  but  Merritt  could  have  thrown  any  light 
upon  the  mj'stcry,  and  he  was  far  away.  Williams 
slujok  his  head  as  he  thought  of  his  parting  with  Henson 
the  previous  night. 

"  I  let  him  out  and  closed  the  gate  behind  him,"  he 
said.  "  He  must  have  come  back  for  somi^thing  lat^r 
on  and  gone  for  the  dogs.  He  certainly  hit  one  of  the 
pups  over  the  head  with  a  stick,  and  that  probably  tct 


57«  THE  CRIMSON    BLIND^ 

the  others  on  to  him.  Nobody  will  ever  know  the  right! 
of  the  business." 

And  nobody  ever  did,  for  Henson  lingered  on  throng 
the  day  and  far  into  the  night.  At  the  house  Lord 
Littimer  was  entertaining  a  party  at  dinner.  Every- 
thing had  been  explained  ;  the  ring  had  been  produced 
and  generally  admired.  All  was  peace  and  happiness. 
They  were  aU  on  the  terrace  in  the  darkness  when 
Williams  came  up  from  the  lodge. 

"  Is  there  any  further  news  ?  "  Lord  Littimer  asked. 

"  Yes,  my  lord,"  Williams  said,  quietly.  "  Dr. 
Walker  has  just  come,  and  would  like  to  see  you  at 
once.     Mr.  Reginald  Henson  died  ten  minutes  ago." 

A  hush  came  over  the  hitherto  noisy  group.  It  was 
some  little  time  before  Lord  Littimer  returned.  He 
had  only  to  confirm  the  news.  Reginald  Henson  was 
dead  ;    he  had  escaped  justice,  after  all. 

"  Well,  I'm  not  sorry,"  Lady  Littimer  said.  "  It  is 
a  rare  disgrace  saved  to  the  family.  And  there  have 
been  trouble  and  sorrow  enough  and  to  spare." 

"  But  your  own  good  name,  my  dear  ?  "  Lord  Littimer 
said.     "  And  Frank's  ?  " 

"  We  can  live  all  that  down,  my  dear  husband.  Frank 
will  be  too  happy  with  Chris  to  care  what  gossips  say. 
And  Dr.  Bell  and  Enid  will  be  as  happy  as  the  others." 

"  And  Ruth  and  myself,  too,"  David  said,  quietly. 
"  Later  on  I  shall  tell  in  a  book  how  three  sirens  got 
me  into  a  perfect  sea  of  mischief." 

"  What  shaU  you  call  the  book  ?  "  Littimer  asked. 

"  What  better  title  could  I  have,"  David  said,  "  thaa 
Th4  Crimson  Blind  ?  " 


THE   END4 


U^ew  Fiction 


r 


The  Serf 

A  tale  of  the  times  of  King  Stephen 
By   GUY    THORNE 

Author  of  "When  it  was  Dark  " 


THE  action  of  the  story  takes  place  in  the  early  mediaeval  ages, 
the  actual  date  being  about  1  1  36,  that  period  of  anarchy  and 
wickedness  which  has  h:id  no  parallel  in  English  history, 
from  the  first  page  to  the  last  the  action  of  the  story  rushes  on  with 
an  impetuosity  and  force  which  will  carry  the  reader  with  it  to  the 
last  words.  How  the  poor  serfs  rose  in  their  misery  and  avenged 
themselves  upon  their  tyrant,  how  they  fled  through  the  grer\t  Hilgay 
fen,  and  how  the  final  tragedy  was  enacted  on  the  top  of  the  Out- 
fan  gthef  Tower  at  sunset,  will  interest  every  reader,  old  and  young 
alike. 

"  The  Serf "  contains  perhaps  the  most  powerful  and  amazing 
picture  of  days  long  past  that  the  English  reading  public  has  been 
privileged  to  peruse  since  the  publication  of  "  The  Cloister  and  the 
Hearth."  It  is  a  remarkable  book  and  one  that  should  be  widely 
read. — Cleveland  Plain-Dealer. 

It  is  the  blackest  period  in  English  history  following  tlie  Norman 
Conquest,  a  period  when  the  great  nobles  did  what  w.is  riiht  in 
their  own  eyes,  when  the  crown  was  without  authority  and  when  the 
barons  fought  each  other  and  plundered  the  common  people  just  as 
they  saw  fit. — Brooklyn  Ea^le. 

^'^^^y^^'^>^  Fnce$I.UOnet 


Th 


e 


Mistress  of  Bonaventure 

By  HAROLD  BINDLOSS 

Author  of  "Alton  of  Somarco,"  "Cattle  Baron's  Daughter,"  etc. 


IN  the  "  Mistress  of  Bonaventure  "  we  have  a  vivid,  realistic  story 
of  early  settlement  life  in  the  prairie  lands  of  the  Canadian 
North- West,  among  the  ranchers  of  the  region. 

The  story  is  a  delightfully  told  one,  and  full  of  intense  human 
interest,  especially  as  it  is  checkered  by  incidents  connected  with  the 
Conditions  of  settlement— the  paying  up  of  the  sums  due  to  the  early 
land  grabbing  companies,  with  their  often  exorbitant  and  usurious 
fates  of  interest  and  other  charges. 

Interest  is  added  to  the  novel  by  the  lifelike  account  given  of  the 
hardships  of  early  settlement  in  the  region  by  the  characters  who 
entertaLiingly  figure  in  the  tale  and  by  the  romantic  incidents  which 
happen  in  the  elegant  surroundings  of  Bonaveiiture  Ranch,  wath  its 
Bweet,  gracious  mistress  of  the  home:  as  well  as  by  the  plucky  fight 
which  young  Rancher  Ormesby  takes  up  against  the  leech  money- 
lender and  land-agent  Ccine. 

Realistic  are  those  portions  of  the  novel  in  which  the  author 
sketclics  aspects  of  life  among  the  ranching  community,  as  well  as  the 
counti7  itself ;  while  delightful  are  the  glimpses  the  reader  gets  of  the 
sweet  heroine  of  the  story,  Lucille  Haldane  and  her  gentle,  hospitable 
father,  and  engrossing  the  chapters  that  deal  with  Rancher  Ormes- 
by's  tender  regard  for  the  lovable  Mistress  of  Bonaventure  and  his 
final  suit  for  her  hand. 

IZmo.  Goth.  GUt  Top  Pfice  $1.00  Net 


1 


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